Table of Contents
- 5 Amazing Movies and Shows That Talk About Mental Health
- Summing It Up
People belonging to all parts of the world, at every stage of life, can suffer from mental illnesses. These don’t necessarily have to be chronic or long-term illnesses and can last for only a short while. In other instances, mental health issues can persist for a long time and become something larger. Depression, anxiety, mood instability, antisocial behaviors — these are some very common occurrences. Plus, there are mental disorders that need more attention too, such as autism and schizophrenia.
While all the technical information is available easily on the internet, there requires being a better medium and more constructive spaces where these issues can be openly discussed. One such medium is movies. Many movies highlight mental disorders and mental health struggles. However, portraying these issues in a manner that detaches the topic for stigmas and stereotypes is very difficult. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and many such OTT platforms have an extensive library of movies desiremovies that do justice to this topic. For the latest movies on Netflix, you can check this out!
If you want to watch some content that portrays mental health issues properly, your options may be limited. This is why we have listed down and discussed some of the most amazing movies that do the best job at portraying, highlighting, and dealing with mental health.
5 Amazing Movies and Shows That Talk About Mental Health
1. Black Swan
Black Swan is a movie that took up a huge challenge but did an exceptional job. It is a complex movie and needs your full attention if you want to capture the depth in which it intends to take you in.
The movie revolves around the unnecessary need to be “perfect” and how it affects an individual’s mental health. Starring Natalie Portman, who does a more than an excellent job at playing a ballerina, who falls into her own darkness after her director implies that someone else might do her role better. There are some intense scenes, some too graphic and related to self-harm, so make sure you are in the right state of mind when you watch this movie.
2. Still Alice
Still Alice might make you too teary than you wish to be. It is about a middle-aged woman, a linguistic professor, who is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. It is a saddening journey to see her get crushed under intense memory loss, and her once-perfect life starts to fall apart.
The biggest highlight of this movie is that even though she has an incurable disease that practically changes who she is, her family’s support is the ultimate escape. Mental disorders and illnesses are always in need of such a support system, and this movie excellently depicts that.
3. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
This movie was way ahead of its time. But the sad part is, that even after so many years, the movie is still relevant and applicable in today’s day and age. The movie is focused on exposing the cruel system that lies in mental wards, and how their behaviors and techniques do not help those who are mentally challenged already.
A sane prisoner makes it out of prison by claiming and proving himself insane. This is only a tactic for him to get out of prison until he gets too involved in a mental ward and ends up starting a rebellion against the nurses and the cruel staff of the hospital. The staff at the mental ward depicts how people in the world treat those with mental challenges. With lots of comic relief here and there, the movie is intense, full of plot twists and shocking moments.
4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Since mental health issues are not restricted to any one age group, The Perks of Being a Wallflower makes a great watch for understanding mental health issues in people from high-school age. It shows how normal it is to be mentally disturbed, and how there always will be someone who understands you.
It mainly focuses on an introverted teenager who starts at a new high school and finds an unexpected group of friends in his seniors who will be leaving for college soon. The movie also shows this young boy learning to cope with death and loss of life.
5. Shutter Island
Shutter Island is the most awestruck movie there is. It is one of the finest works done by Leonardo DiCaprio. The movie is based on delusional disorder. And while any more information about the plot might lead to some disappointing spoilers, it is best to give this movie a watch. You will find out how it thoroughly depicts a mental illness that does not necessarily show obvious signs at first.
Summing It Up
You will find many of the abovementioned movies on DirecTV Stream, which is a live TV and on-demand service. Having an easy, go-to library where you can find all such movies that talk about important real-life issues is crucial. This is why opting for a DirecTV Stream package is a smart choice if you want to watch quality content. Check out their plans and packages by calling DirecTV customer service for professional assistance.
