Mental Health in Film: 6 Movies That Best Portray Mental Illness

Most people that I've spoken with would say that movies are a form of escapism. The average person views film as a way to forget about their life, to separate themselves from the world and the things in it, in an attempt to find relief from the struggles everyday life throws at them. But for me, movies are something different. I don't watch movies to forget about my life; I watch them to cope with it. Perhaps it's why action-filled, blockbuster-type movies don't do much of anything for me. The most inspiring, impactful movies I've seen are the ones that have taught me something, that enlighten something that was once in darkness, to make me think in a way I hadn't before. This is part of the way I survive a life riddled with mental illness. I watch other people, fictional or not, who feel as alone as I do, and it makes feel that perhaps I am not alone after all.

Despite an increasing amount of awareness towards mental health issues of all kinds, movies that accurately depict living with a disorder seem to be few and far between. They tend to fall into one extreme or the other - either whitewashing the illnesses they portray, or over-dramatizing them, making every individual with a mental health issue seem like a dangerous, unstable maniac. There are a select few, however, that handle this sensitive subject matter with the respect it deserves, and these are the movies that have the power to change our lives. So without further ado, here are my top picks for the films that most accurately portray the depths of mental illness.

6. As Good As It Gets (1997)

As Good As It Gets tells the story a man suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder, and is one of the single best examples of that particular disorder on film. It manages to show us the parts of his disease that society has turned into something of a cliche, like compulsive handwashing, yet still manages to depict Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson) as a real, sympathetic person, if not an overly nice one much of the time. His relationship with Carol Connelly (Helen Hunt) is enough to begin to slip through his walls, just one sidewalk crack at a time.

5. Joker (2019)

This selection may seem a little counterintuitive, given my opinion on Hollywood's depiction of the mentally ill. But the most effective element of Joker is not, oddly enough, the Joker himself. It is Arthur Fleck, the man who will soon become the Joker, as he haphazardly slips down a rabbit hole of medications and therapy, medications and therapy, more medications and more therapy. It comes across as less of a story about the comic book villain we all know and love, and more of a showcase of someone falling deeper and deeper into the darkness of his own mind. When asked by his therapist if he is having any negative thoughts, his devastated response is that he has nothing but negative thoughts. Our hearts ache for him despite our obvious knowledge of what he will become, and it makes his descent into total madness that much more tragic.

4. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Based on the 2008 novel of the same name, this story chronicles the journey of Pat Solitano, a man who has just been released from an eight-month stint in a psychiatric hospital. He suffers from undiagnosed bipolar disorder, and his love interest, Tiffany, is said to have a disorder as well, though it's never named. The movie handles its heartwarming, funny aspects as deftly as its tragedy, and it pulls no punches in showing the toll that Pat's illness has taken on his parents, his body, and his life in general.

3. Good Will Hunting (1997)

While Will Hunting's disorders are never given a title, it's clear from his traumatic past and lack of confidence that something's not quite right in that brilliant brain of his. We bear witness as he doubts himself, pushes away the people who care for him, and attempts to refuse treatment. The movie's standout, however, is his increasingly trustful relationship with his therapist Sean, who has begun practicing again just for Will. Much like a real-life therapy relationship, they go through their ups and downs - some sessions are funny, some are heartfelt, some are infused with anger and others ripe with emotion. But he keeps showing up, and when Sean tries to convince him near the end of their time together that nothing that's happened to Will is his fault, we get the idea that he might finally believe him.

2. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

One of cinema's boldest and most accurate takes on mental health, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a must-watch for any movie lover, whether you're interested in the psychological aspect or not. R.P. McMurphy's pretended illness isn't real, but the influential effect he has on the hospital's other patients is far from fake. The men who become his friends are masterfully played and terribly ill, and they are changed and inspired by the unforeseen light he brings onto the hospital grounds. Despite its unsettling subject matter, it remains one of the most inspirational movies ever made, in part due to its reminder that joy can be found in the direst circumstances.

1. Ordinary People (1980)

In his directorial debut, Robert Redford adapted for the screen this flawless story about a lonely teenager named Conrad who has just been released from a psychiatric institution. He was admitted due to a suicide attempt following the death of his brother, and while he is no longer strictly suicidal, he's far from out of the woods. Similarly to Good Will Hunting, you might say Conrad's relationship with his doctor is the beating heart of the story, as he tries to navigate through life of grief and depression. Anxiety, survivor's guilt, and family dysfunction are all front and center in this moving story, making it, without a doubt, the most effective cinematic take on mental illness I've seen.