16 Movies & TV Shows That Portray Mental Health With Accuracy

Some, like What About Bob?, are fictional, humorous looks at what it is to live with a mental health condition. Others, like A Beautiful Mind, are biographical, and an examination of the challenges and stigmas faced by previous generations. At best, having accurate portrayals of mental health in movies and TV shows can show people that they are not alone.

16 ‘Shame’ (2011)

Starring Michael Fassbender, Shame is a British erotic psychological drama film directed by Steve McQueen and co-written by McQueen and Abi Morgan. Its plot revolves around the carefully cultivated private life of a sex addict, which comes crashing down as his sister (Carey Mulligan) arrives for an extended stay.

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Although definitely not everybody’s cup of tea, Shame provides audiences with an insightful, unconventional take on trauma and its consequences, including how distinct it can look and the ways it can manifest for different people. It is brilliantly acted, provocative, and even hard to watch at times.

15 ‘Amour’ (2012)

Michael Haneke‘s heartbreaking drama deals with an octogenarian couple, Georges (Jean-Louis Trintignant) and Anne (Emmanuelle Riva), two cultivated and retired music teachers. Things start to crumble when Anne has a stroke, and the couple’s years-long connection is put to the test.

While Palme d’Or winner Amour depicts old age and the complications — including the physical and mental issues — that come with it, it specifically highlights Alzheimer’s disease/dementia. This powerful portrayal is both painful and fascinating, illustrating what unconditional love and devotion look like.

Watch on Mubi

14 ‘What About Bob?’ (1991)

Frank Oz‘s What About Bob? tells the story of Bill Murray‘s Bob who has a massive list of phobias that interfere with his everyday life. His therapist Dr. Leo Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss) is certain that the answer to all of Bob’s problems is his own best-selling book, “Baby Steps.” Chaos ensues when Bob can’t leave Dr. Marvin alone, even following him while the doctor tries to take a family vacation.

There are several aspects of this story that are incredibly accurate to the experience of mental health. Bob’s experience of experiencing such heavy anxiety that it impacts his daily life is relatable to anyone who has experienced something similar. What may be even more accurate is seeing a mental health practitioner who holds themselves up as having all the answers, exclusively.

13 ‘A Beautiful Mind’ (2001)

A Beautiful Mind is an inspiring biographical look at the life of John Nash (Russell Crowe). Nash was a mathematician who lived with schizophrenia. The movie acknowledges the many contributions Nash made to the field of mathematics while acknowledging the very real struggles he faced when his mental health was at its worst.

John Nash spent many years in mental health facilities to treat his schizophrenia. His recovery and subsequent successes were what inspired Sylvia Nasar‘s biography on which the movie was based. His return to academic work in the 1980s following his many years of treatment featured some of his best work for what he would become known.

Watch on Starz

12 ‘Black-ish’ (2014 – 2022)

Black-ish as a comedy never shied away from portraying serious issues. The show handled racism and sexism, and the COVID-19 pandemic was among the many real-world issues the show’s characters encountered during the series’ run. Tracee Ellis Ross received critical acclaim for her role as Dr. Rainbow Johnson.

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Rainbow was always one of the show’s strongest characters. Her experience with post-partum depression after the birth of her youngest son, DeVante, is handled with grace and honesty. This is an experience that is so often spoken about too little. Any attention to this very common mental health condition will hopefully make others feel less alone.

Watch on Disney+

11 ‘Sex Education’ (2019 – )

Sex Education is one of the most popular TV shows about mental health (and physical health as well), and it features head boy Jackson Marchetti (Kedar Williams-Stirling), and his experiences at Moordale Secondary School. He’s a championship swimmer and is on a quest to get Maeve (Emma Mackey) to date him. Even with all of his successes, he still lives with anxiety and panic attacks.

Jackson’s experience with anxiety and panic attacks is authentic, especially as a teenage experience. The fluctuations in his mental health, depending upon whether he is accessing the right support and is on the correct medication, are very true to life. He is able to continue living his life with these conditions if these supports are in place. The series also offers viewers a complex portrayal of what Black queer teenage years can potentially look like with Eric’s (Ncuti Gatwa) equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking, and groundbreaking LGBTQ+ storyline on the show.

Watch on Netflix

10 ‘Moon Knight’ (2022)

Marvel’s Moon Knight showcases a little-known Marvel hero, Marc Spector. Spector lives with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). This manifests as Marc having at least three alter-egos, that have different powers and abilities. He is the avatar of the Egyptian god Khonshu. Oscar Isaac plays each of Spector’s alters.

While the adventure TV show didn’t delve too deeply into the realities of DID, it did showcase how profound childhood trauma can influence mental health into adulthood. Here, Spector is the victim of childhood abuse. It’s touching and accurate, that his mental health condition is shown as protecting Spector from this abuse when he needs it most.

Watch on Disney+

9 ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’ (2012)

Based on Stephen Chbosky‘s best-selling young-adult novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is one of the most beloved mental health movies out there. In the Logan Lerman-led film, the endearing 15-year-old Charlie is anxious about starting high school. When he befriends his seniors, he learns to deal with his friend’s suicide, how to cope with his first love, and how to navigate his turbulent life.

By accurately depicting the signs of PTSD and depression in a young person who had the trauma of sexual abuse as a child, The Perks of Being a Wallflower makes for a deeply moving watch that will likely not leave anyone indifferent. It is worth noting that, like some other films on this list, it features scenes about substance use, suicide, and self-harm that some may find upsetting.

Watch on Prime Video

8 ‘BoJack Horseman’ (2014 – 2020)

BoJack Horseman is set in an alternate reality in which humans and anthropomorphized animals live together. The titular main character is a washed-up celebrity who has to navigate his loss of status. He also has to manage the antics of other characters around him along with his own issues.

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Although the premise of this incredible dark comedy is fantastical, it tackles some very human struggles. BoJack himself lives with alcohol abuse. The series also features storylines on depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Even though the show is a comedy, it handles these issues very seriously.

Watch on Netflix

7 ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ (1975)

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is based on the novel of the same name by Ken Kesey. Randle McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) is an in-patient in a mental health facility, ruled by the cruel Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher). What follows is a meditation on tyranny and the enduring human spirit.

Perhaps the most accurate part of this movie is how cruel the mental healthcare system has treated patients in the past. Barbaric treatments are shown in a horrifying way. It’s a sad commentary on how far the medical system has come, and how far there still is to go.

Watch on Showtime

6 ‘Normal People’ (2020)

Normal People broke our hearts when it premiered – and we have Sally Rooney to thank for it. This beautifully written coming-of-age tale of physical and emotional growth introduces viewers to Daisy Edgar Jones‘ Marianne and Oscar-nominee Paul Mescal‘s Connell, following the two characters as they weave in and out of each other’s romantic lives.

In addition to the intriguing portrayal of a somewhat toxic on-and-off relationship (at least to begin with), what makes Normal People so great is the way it handles both Marianne and Connell’s mental health and follows their storylines as individuals, depicting their struggles with anxiety and depression and highlighting the subtle ways in they can manifest.

Watch on Hulu

5 ‘Girl, Interrupted’ (1999)

Girl, Interrupted is based on the book of the same name by Susanna Kaysen. Set in a mental health facility, the film is an autobiographical story of Kaysen’s experience of being hospitalized, and subsequently being diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. The movie has an all-star cast, including Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie (who won an Oscar), Elisabeth Moss, and Whoopi Goldberg among others.

Borderline Personality Disorder is still one mental health condition that is poorly understood and frequently stigmatized. The fact that this was discussed so openly and in such an honest way in 2000 is a credit to Kaysen, and her courage to share her own story. Additionally, this movie captures the reality of hospitalization for mental health, and it’s sobering.

Watch on Netflix

4 ‘Spencer’ (2021)

In Pablo Larraín‘s thought-provoking Spencer, viewers are invited to take a look inside the life of the late and honorable Lady Diana Frances Spencer in a well-executed, emotionally charged biography. Kristen Stewart seamlessly steps into the shoes of the people’s princess and the film follows her during the Christmas holidays with the Royal Family at their Sandringham estate in Norfolk, England.

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Apart from depicting Princess Diana’s existential crisis during a very poignant period in 1991 (when the issues she was faced with reached a boiling point and evidently began to disintegrate) the compelling and beautifully shot film also shines a light on her internal and externalized pain related to bulimia (loosely based on specific facts) and extreme loneliness.

Watch on Hulu

3 ‘Black Swan’ (2010)

A drama thriller surrounding an extremely dedicated dancer (Natalie Portman) who has landed a part in a production of “Swan Lake” by Tchaikovsky, Black Swan depicts how difficult it is to maintain one’s mental health stability when dealing with extreme performance anxiety (in addition to sharing a home with an overprotective parent).

Darren Aronofsky‘s haunting film is considered a masterpiece by many, and that has also to do with the way the reasonable way it depicts the psychosis that Nina experiences. In addition to this, the film also addresses disordered eating, anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors.

2 ‘Ted Lasso’ (2020 – 2023)

There is much to love about the comedy series Ted Lasso and the American coach who brings his unique brand of optimism to coaching AFC Richmond. Jason Sudeikis leads this lovable cast of characters. Each character is painted as incredibly complex, with their own histories that inform their individual personalities. One of the most authentic parts of Ted Lasso is his experiences with panic attacks.

What Ted Lasso does so well is show that mental health conditions can exist under the surface for people who seem like they are doing “fine.” What really makes this storyline poignant is the fact that Ted’s friends, including Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham), fully support him when he discloses the fact that he experiences panic attacks. Watching Ted become more honest about his reality is aspirational and heart-warming.

Watch on Apple TV+

1 ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ (2012)

Silver Linings Playbook is a romantic comedy starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper. Cooper plays Pat, a man living with bipolar who’s just been discharged from a mental health facility. His character attempts to reconcile with his wife while developing his friendship with Lawrence’s Tiffany.

Bipolar is another often misunderstood mental health condition that is often portrayed inaccurately. Cooper plays his character through a compassionate and authentic lens. He plays this character in a very understated way, rather than descending into stereotypes about people with bipolar.

Watch on Prime Video

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