Does the representation of mental health on stage and screen reflect reality?
Does the representation of mental health on stage and screen reflect reality?
In our modern society, the discussion and, also, social stigma around mental health is growing rapidly by the day. On one hand, people are talking and educating themselves on mental illnesses, discovering new ways to care for them and get better. However, on the other extremely weighted hand, the discussion is seen by many as an overhyped, fear-mongering falsity. It's frustrating to people who have dealt with mental disorders their whole lives as that means a huge part of them and what they've gone through is now suddenly up for debate by the media and, often, random strangers on the Internet. The mould of bottling up our emotions to keep up a good 'image' of ourselves is now fully broken with many turning to social media to spread awareness on the matter. It only really became properly socially acceptable to speak up about mental health in the last two decades or so with even the 90s being a tough time for anyone dealing with a disorder. Many are told to count themselves lucky that they are believed and listened to but, sometimes: it isn't enough. For some people, therapy, medication and doctor's appointments don't work. For some, they don't want it. And, for many: they're too scared to speak up about it still. Everybody's mental health is different. Like a fingerprint. Each with a different identity, a different way of working. The triggers and causes are all different, too. Mental illnesses can be obtained in many ways (childhood trauma, passed down via genes, biochemical imbalances etc.) but none have the same causation. Something one person finds anxiety-inducing, somebody else with anxiety may not. But, something that unites everyone as a whole is that, no matter how we feel, we turn to entertainment as an escape. Many see entertainment as a distraction from the outside world. It can draw you into somewhere else where your problems don't exist, you live vicariously through the characters of a show or play you're watching. No matter if it makes you laugh, cry or fearful, you're feeling something other than your own emotions. However, although watching shows or going to see live theatre to binge your problems with your mental health away is sometimes helpful, another thing that's also helpful is the representation of mental health on stage and screen. A person seeing something that they suffer with on stage in front of them or on a mainstream series helps normalise the issue and helps them feel less alone with what they're dealing with. While many do their best to represent what they think is a healthy showcase of mental illnesses, many miss the mark completely and the representation is very bad, causing frustration, confusion and sometimes even more heightened symptoms of their disorder. In this essay, I will be discussing how well the representation on stage and screen can reflect reality.
Musicals are currently a massive part of the entertainment industry as major shows from Broadway and world tours make their way over to the West End to showcase their wonders. Attendance to see musicals in London last year rose by 3% compared to the previous year to over 15.5 million people. They also saw a 15.4% increase in revenue from last year to around £504 million. So it's no surprise that several musicals are being introduced recently, hoping to become as successful as it's predecessors. Due to this, there are so many unique stories being introduced to a new audience, so mental health is a topic that has been touched upon. One musical that has covered this topic is Dear Evan Hansen. Dear Evan Hansen tells the story of a socially anxious boy called Evan who wants to be able to fit in and make friends but finds this difficult due to his mental illness. Because of its unique storytelling and ability to connect widely with an audience, it is a great example of a good representation of mental health on stage. It is extremely true to life and never romanticizes or belittles the character of Evan for being a sufferer, instead, it shows his journey and growth as a person and how he begins to tackle obstacles in his path. Sam Tutty, who played Evan, was incredible and his mannerisms and dialogue were all very well done and many sufferers have said that they related highly to many of the things he did and said. One example was that he would fiddle with objects a lot or move his hands nervously most of the time, common causation of anxiety disorder. Seeing something on stage that many people greatly related to that was also a very personal thing for them, meant a lot as many felt represented, not just in general but extremely accurately too. As mental illnesses are on a wide spectrum, nobodies are the same so to someone else, they may not think it represents them as well, however, this musical has got people talking about mental health. A discussion has opened up amongst families and friends who have gone to see it who either relate to the subject matter or wish to be educated on it more. The musical is mainly targeted to those of the ages 12-19 which is an extremely good age to be projecting a message of 'You Will Be Found' to. In the UK in 2018, the suicide rate of under 25s increased by 23.7%, reaching 730 deaths. Although adults can seek hope within this musical too, having characters that are teenagers and showing them in their day to day lives, gives young adults something to relate to and, if they are suffering, may seek help afterwards as the show brings a positive message of hope, family and having conversations with those you love.
But, why is good representation important? How can it help/affect somebody? Good representation on stage and screen is helpful to sufferers of mental illnesses as it spreads awareness on the issue. Despite mental health being a heavily debated topic in our modern climate, still many are uneducated and unaware of some of the symptoms, effects and statistics of mental illnesses. Often it's not to the fault of the person; they may not understand it fully or be confused by some aspects but are still willing to learn. However, there are still many people out there that refuse to be educated on the matter or will flat out deny that mental illnesses exist. It's this ignorance and intolerance that causes sufferers to feel isolated and alone. So, when stage productions, tv shows or films have well-adapted, accurate representations of mental illnesses, it can make someone feel so seen that what they are going through is being shown in a positive, educational light in a major show or production. Even if people are still doubtful, creating a sense of normality of this on our stages and screens will be a major step in the awareness on the issue. If it works well, is teaching you something positive and reflects the experience of sufferers realistically then it counts as good representation. Another reason why good representation is important is that it sparks a conversation, particularly between families. Recently, ITV ran a 'Britain Get Talking' campaign and the main goal of this was to encourage families and friends to get talking about mental health. They did this by running silent ad breaks through shows to inspire families watching to talk to each other if they had any problems or if you were living alone, persuade them to reach out to somebody. Many liked this idea and thought this was a very helpful and important campaign as most mental illnesses are true to their name: they are mental therefore they are mostly hidden. It's difficult to deduce what somebody else is feeling unless they reach out you themselves. It gives them time to talk and let someone understand their struggles as talking about mental health has been proven to lift a weight off of your shoulders as physical words being spoken about what they are suffering with can feel refreshing and true. Someone seeing a campaign like this on a major TV channel can help them to feel represented, enlightened and inspired to start a conversation.
Although luckily, in the times we live in, representation is slowly improving, that doesn't mean bad representation has been completely gotten rid of just yet. One example of this is the TV series, Thirteen Reasons Why which is currently based on the streaming site Netflix. On the surface Thirteen Reasons Why doesn't seem too bad. The first season of the show follows the story of Hannah Baker, a young girl who committed suicide. The show is narrated by her character as, after her death, she sent around thirteen tapes. Each tape recording referred to a different person involved within Hannah's life and why they ultimately contributed to her decision to end her life. It was then renewed for a further two seasons and covers some pretty heavy topics such as suicide, sexual assault and, evidently, mental illness. This show had so much potential in showcasing the effects of suicide on the victim, their friends and their family and how it can help to be prevented. However, many viewers have pointed out that the way it has been handled is poorly executed, gruesome and glamorised. The main reason people dislike the show is due to it's 'revenge fantasy' of suicide. In the show, Hannah blames multiple people on the fact that she ended her life, causing many characters emotional distress. Psychologist Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber, P.H.D stated concerning the series that: 'Revenge as a motivation for suicide is not the kind of message that is healthy or productive to send'. It represents those who have previously suffered from suicidal thoughts as revengeful and cold which is not the case for so many. Someone uneducated on this issue may take this literally and believe that someone who self-harms or harms themselves in any way, maybe attention-seeking for retribution and they will keep this same narrow mindset for everyone they meet. In a technological world, TV shows and films have a bigger impact on us than we think and can begin to influence our views and intolerances if it is not done correctly. Another reason this show is a bad representation for those suffering from their mental health is that the show didn't encourage those suffering to reach out for help, instead, it only showed how getting support can go wrong and didn't air it in a positive light at all. In the final episode of the show, the last tape recording is addressed to Mr Porter, a guidance counsellor at Hannah's school whom, when Hannah explained her suicidal thoughts to him, denied her claims and didn't give her the proper help she needed. This depiction could deter so many young people from reaching out as it showed asking for help as something shameful to do and that people won't believe you even if you try. Many have argued that as Thirteen Reasons Why is just a TV show, that interaction may have just been used to further the plot for creative choices. However, the whole tone of the show is like this, throughout all three seasons. A graphic dramatization of Hannah's suicide within the show had to be removed by Netflix in July 2019 due to how much it affected people and the popular streaming site only introduced warnings cards stating the themes that will be shown throughout the season in March 2018, a whole year after the show initially aired. This controversial show has meant that the true-life experiences of those dealing with their mental health have been falsely shown, therefore spreading misinformation about the reality of mental illnesses.
Opposed to good representation, bad representation impacts negatively way more than good representation impacts positively. One way in which this is true is that it makes recovery more difficult due to people feeling less confident. Everybody fighting mental illnesses are in a completely different stage of recovery. Some have just begun their journey, some are so close to a full recovery. But no matter where you are in your journey, bad representation affects everyone. In most cases, it drops people's confidence as they believe that the misrepresentation that has been depicted in a show or on stage is how people actually see them. It can put them multiple steps back and undo, sometimes, months of hard work on themselves. The bad representation can also promote discrimination in the workplace, school or any social situations. When incorrect, negative connotations of mental illnesses are put out it can severely affect the way that sufferers can work in a workplace. Inaccuracy or misunderstanding of a portrayal of mental illness can cause abuse in many settings, for example, if someone with schizophrenia is portrayed as insane, violent and many more harmful stereotypes on a TV show, coworkers, friends or even family may begin to distance themselves from that person as they have been fed false information about that mental illness. In a 2006 survey, 60% of Americans said that they portrayed people with schizophrenia to be violent. In most cases, schizophrenia does not connotate to violence or insanity (only in extremely severe cases). People with schizophrenia can act unpredictably at times due to the nature of their condition but, when encouraged by the people around them to seek help or when influenced by helpful, positive representation, they can get better and feel happier. In the UK, 5.9 out of 100 people suffer from Generalised Anxiety Disorder and 6.7 out of 100 have attempted suicide at some point in their lifetime. A good representation that is realistic and healthy is needed now more than ever.
Leading on from this, it sparks the question: what causes misrepresentation to happen? What sparks a chain of events that allow it to occur? Most (mainly screen) producers and writers include a mental illness storyline for their need to 'check a box'. It's a self-indulging narrative they can tell to claim they've included 'diversity' within their project. Normally, the character's storyline isn't produced properly as it has been rushed due to not truly caring about representing a mental illness positively. Sometimes shows will purposefully misrepresent mental illnesses to make their film/show funny or be the punchline of a joke. This causes conflict, however, conflict causes interest, therefore it can still pull an audience in. Thirteen Reasons Why (which I mentioned previously) was big in the media due to its poor portrayal of mental illnesses. This caused people to go and check it out and viewing figures soared overnight. Many people unknowingly watch and support entertainment that disregards and belittles sufferers just because they love to 'hate-watch'. Just because a producer wanted to check an invisible box or cause conflict to gain media clicks, it has caused a stigma against mental illnesses that will stay with people for a long time, whether they know it or not.
But like with most things, it's good to surround yourself with the positives rather than the negatives. One example of this is a play, previously shown at the Duke of York's Theatre, called The Son. It's the final puzzle piece of a trilogy of plays by playwright Florian Zeller and was directed by Michael Longhurst. The Son tells the story of a young boy, Nicholas, who is going through a rough time due to his parent's divorce. He plays truant, lies compulsively and also suffers from severe depression. It shows not only his struggles but also his family's struggle of trying to understand what's wrong with him. Nicholas' father, Pierre, (played by John Light) almost refuses to see Nichola's emotions for what they are: a mental illness. The Son is such a heartbreaking, intense and frustrating play. It's very clever in how it portrays Nicholas' depression and never sugarcoats it or hides the effects of it to the audience. Laurie Kynaston's portrayal of the character brings it to life wonderfully. There is only one time in the whole show where Nicholas' smiles as if he is truly happy, a scene where he dances to the song 'Happy' by Pharrell Williams alongside his father and his father's fiance, Sofia (Amaka Okafor). It's also the only scene in which everybody feels like a family. But halfway through this, seemingly, cheerful moment, Nicholas stops suddenly, a bout of depression swarming over him and he flees to his room. This moment felt so real and well done. It reflects the reality of unpredictable mental illnesses well and shows that just because someone may seem happy and are smiling on the outside, it doesn't necessarily equate to happiness on the inside. The realistic representation of mental health in this show was so amazing to see especially as the main character is a male and seventeen years old. Suicide is more common in men than in women, men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women. So seeing a young male character go through the experience of depression on stage for thousands of people a week to see in the West End could potentially help somebody. If someone is suffering they could be inspired by what they saw to ask for help. The Son also didn't hold back in it's more intense moments. It showed the painful truth of someone struggling with suicidal thoughts and portrayed the experience in a distressing but necessary way. This is particularly as, like in the show, many people still don't fully understand or refuse to understand the severity of mental illnesses. A lot of refusals to accept, refusal to be educated, and swatting the problem away are just a few key factors into the denial of mental illnesses. For example, in one scene Anne, Nicholas' mother (played by Amanda Abbington) suggests to Nicholas that the reason he is feeling depressed is due to a breakup that happened a few months prior: 'Your father told me you'd broken up with a girl? Is that it?'. Nicholas tells her that they never even dated and the stage directions heavily show Anne's reaction to this: 'Pause. Anne still doesn't understand.'. Pierre especially denies that there is something wrong with his son. He is a very matter of fact man who grew up surrounded by family who urged him to 'man up' at every opportunity and that failure equates to weakness. In the climax of the show during an argument between the two, Pierre says: 'Explain it to me! What's going on? Are you on drugs?......When I was your age, my mother was ill, I didn't see my father any more, I had money problems, but I fought on.......What's happened to you? What is there in your life that's so dramatic you're not able to go to school like everybody else?'. His uneducated state of mind causes a spiral of unfortunate events leading to a devastating conclusion. The representation of a realistic character suffering from a mental illness not only benefits the sufferers themselves but also anyone who doesn't understand mental illnesses or has never been educated on them. It may change their perspective on what they are and also how it not only affects them but everyone around them. Seeing stories such as The Son on stage opens up so many opportunities for people suffering to be seen, heard and understood.
Luckily, we are currently living in an age in which representation is improving. Fewer situations are occurring in which sufferers feel as if they are being belittled or misrepresented. But the industry still has a long way to go. There are many ways in which the stage and screen can both improve their representation to properly reflect reality. One way is to start showing more characters who recover. There are many shows in which a character dies and it is relevant to the plot to portray an intense/upsetting experience, however, having more characters that even partially recover and are shown to still lead a life afterwards is essential in showing sufferers that they can reach out for help and be successful. Some people with mental illnesses see themselves as deluded or fake more often than not and, sadly, experience (whether they know it or not) internalised mentalism as their illness causes them to not even believe themselves. So seeing realistic depictions of mental health in which a character is heard and improves is vital so that people suffering from this may start to build up their self-image and confidence that they are correct. Another way stage and screen can improve their representation is by reaching out to people who have gone through mental illnesses to help build and create a narrative. Quite often, the writers creating stories about mental health have never truly suffered from anything they are writing about which is often the fatal fall as to why the stories never come across correctly. So introducing someone to the writer's room who has experienced that could have an extremely helpful insight into the realities of mental health rather than have an uneducated, misunderstood approach to it. It would benefit the studio/show and the person putting forward ideas massively as it would mean success for the show and an amazing experience for a potential young writer who may not have had that kind of opportunity before. However, in an industry full of large cooperations and booming studios, it can sometimes feel difficult to get voices heard amongst the crowd. So what are some ways in which we as a society can help improve representation? One way is that we can praise and support shows that do this properly. Instead of investing our energy into slamming bad shows for their decisions, revert our interest into the great shows that show helpful, realistic depictions. For some productions, bad press is better than no press at all so if we show our appreciation to the good ones, it will make some people very clear the overall views of the general public. Another way in which we can make a difference is to use social media and encourage a discussion. Going back to my very first point, we seek refuge in social media constantly. For some, it's the only haven they have. So starting a discussion over mental health and how they are represented will be seen by those people, making them feel included and part of a conversation. Also, conversing over shows and debating over how well they handled certain plotlines and character decisions can help sufferers to feel like they have a voice in the matter. A final way in which we as an audience can help to improve representation is to encourage hope, empowerment and self-love. In a world of negativity and toxicity, to improve our and others wellbeings, encouraging self-care and love are extremely important. While representation on stage and screen is important to sufferers, what's even more important is how accepted and represented they feel within our society. Showing that mental illnesses are not a barrier and rather a scenic route can make all the difference in making someone feel like they matter. The representation of mental health on stage and screen isn't quite yet a true reflection of our reality but we are evolving together. Slowly but surely, the entertainment mirror facing our society will show what's truly there and will save lives because of it.
In our modern society, the discussion and, also, social stigma around mental health is growing rapidly by the day. On one hand, people are talking and educating themselves on mental illnesses, discovering new ways to care for them and get better. However, on the other extremely weighted hand, the discussion is seen by many as an overhyped, fear-mongering falsity. It's frustrating to people who have dealt with mental disorders their whole lives as that means a huge part of them and what they've gone through is now suddenly up for debate by the media and, often, random strangers on the Internet. The mould of bottling up our emotions to keep up a good 'image' of ourselves is now fully broken with many turning to social media to spread awareness on the matter. It only really became properly socially acceptable to speak up about mental health in the last two decades or so with even the 90s being a tough time for anyone dealing with a disorder. Many are told to count themselves lucky that they are believed and listened to but, sometimes: it isn't enough. For some people, therapy, medication and doctor's appointments don't work. For some, they don't want it. And, for many: they're too scared to speak up about it still. Everybody's mental health is different. Like a fingerprint. Each with a different identity, a different way of working. The triggers and causes are all different, too. Mental illnesses can be obtained in many ways (childhood trauma, passed down via genes, biochemical imbalances etc.) but none have the same causation. Something one person finds anxiety-inducing, somebody else with anxiety may not. But, something that unites everyone as a whole is that, no matter how we feel, we turn to entertainment as an escape. Many see entertainment as a distraction from the outside world. It can draw you into somewhere else where your problems don't exist, you live vicariously through the characters of a show or play you're watching. No matter if it makes you laugh, cry or fearful, you're feeling something other than your own emotions. However, although watching shows or going to see live theatre to binge your problems with your mental health away is sometimes helpful, another thing that's also helpful is the representation of mental health on stage and screen. A person seeing something that they suffer with on stage in front of them or on a mainstream series helps normalise the issue and helps them feel less alone with what they're dealing with. While many do their best to represent what they think is a healthy showcase of mental illnesses, many miss the mark completely and the representation is very bad, causing frustration, confusion and sometimes even more heightened symptoms of their disorder. In this essay, I will be discussing how well the representation on stage and screen can reflect reality.
Musicals are currently a massive part of the entertainment industry as major shows from Broadway and world tours make their way over to the West End to showcase their wonders. Attendance to see musicals in London last year rose by 3% compared to the previous year to over 15.5 million people. They also saw a 15.4% increase in revenue from last year to around £504 million. So it's no surprise that several musicals are being introduced recently, hoping to become as successful as it's predecessors. Due to this, there are so many unique stories being introduced to a new audience, so mental health is a topic that has been touched upon. One musical that has covered this topic is Dear Evan Hansen. Dear Evan Hansen tells the story of a socially anxious boy called Evan who wants to be able to fit in and make friends but finds this difficult due to his mental illness. Because of its unique storytelling and ability to connect widely with an audience, it is a great example of a good representation of mental health on stage. It is extremely true to life and never romanticizes or belittles the character of Evan for being a sufferer, instead, it shows his journey and growth as a person and how he begins to tackle obstacles in his path. Sam Tutty, who played Evan, was incredible and his mannerisms and dialogue were all very well done and many sufferers have said that they related highly to many of the things he did and said. One example was that he would fiddle with objects a lot or move his hands nervously most of the time, common causation of anxiety disorder. Seeing something on stage that many people greatly related to that was also a very personal thing for them, meant a lot as many felt represented, not just in general but extremely accurately too. As mental illnesses are on a wide spectrum, nobodies are the same so to someone else, they may not think it represents them as well, however, this musical has got people talking about mental health. A discussion has opened up amongst families and friends who have gone to see it who either relate to the subject matter or wish to be educated on it more. The musical is mainly targeted to those of the ages 12-19 which is an extremely good age to be projecting a message of 'You Will Be Found' to. In the UK in 2018, the suicide rate of under 25s increased by 23.7%, reaching 730 deaths. Although adults can seek hope within this musical too, having characters that are teenagers and showing them in their day to day lives, gives young adults something to relate to and, if they are suffering, may seek help afterwards as the show brings a positive message of hope, family and having conversations with those you love.
But, why is good representation important? How can it help/affect somebody? Good representation on stage and screen is helpful to sufferers of mental illnesses as it spreads awareness on the issue. Despite mental health being a heavily debated topic in our modern climate, still many are uneducated and unaware of some of the symptoms, effects and statistics of mental illnesses. Often it's not to the fault of the person; they may not understand it fully or be confused by some aspects but are still willing to learn. However, there are still many people out there that refuse to be educated on the matter or will flat out deny that mental illnesses exist. It's this ignorance and intolerance that causes sufferers to feel isolated and alone. So, when stage productions, tv shows or films have well-adapted, accurate representations of mental illnesses, it can make someone feel so seen that what they are going through is being shown in a positive, educational light in a major show or production. Even if people are still doubtful, creating a sense of normality of this on our stages and screens will be a major step in the awareness on the issue. If it works well, is teaching you something positive and reflects the experience of sufferers realistically then it counts as good representation. Another reason why good representation is important is that it sparks a conversation, particularly between families. Recently, ITV ran a 'Britain Get Talking' campaign and the main goal of this was to encourage families and friends to get talking about mental health. They did this by running silent ad breaks through shows to inspire families watching to talk to each other if they had any problems or if you were living alone, persuade them to reach out to somebody. Many liked this idea and thought this was a very helpful and important campaign as most mental illnesses are true to their name: they are mental therefore they are mostly hidden. It's difficult to deduce what somebody else is feeling unless they reach out you themselves. It gives them time to talk and let someone understand their struggles as talking about mental health has been proven to lift a weight off of your shoulders as physical words being spoken about what they are suffering with can feel refreshing and true. Someone seeing a campaign like this on a major TV channel can help them to feel represented, enlightened and inspired to start a conversation.
Although luckily, in the times we live in, representation is slowly improving, that doesn't mean bad representation has been completely gotten rid of just yet. One example of this is the TV series, Thirteen Reasons Why which is currently based on the streaming site Netflix. On the surface Thirteen Reasons Why doesn't seem too bad. The first season of the show follows the story of Hannah Baker, a young girl who committed suicide. The show is narrated by her character as, after her death, she sent around thirteen tapes. Each tape recording referred to a different person involved within Hannah's life and why they ultimately contributed to her decision to end her life. It was then renewed for a further two seasons and covers some pretty heavy topics such as suicide, sexual assault and, evidently, mental illness. This show had so much potential in showcasing the effects of suicide on the victim, their friends and their family and how it can help to be prevented. However, many viewers have pointed out that the way it has been handled is poorly executed, gruesome and glamorised. The main reason people dislike the show is due to it's 'revenge fantasy' of suicide. In the show, Hannah blames multiple people on the fact that she ended her life, causing many characters emotional distress. Psychologist Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber, P.H.D stated concerning the series that: 'Revenge as a motivation for suicide is not the kind of message that is healthy or productive to send'. It represents those who have previously suffered from suicidal thoughts as revengeful and cold which is not the case for so many. Someone uneducated on this issue may take this literally and believe that someone who self-harms or harms themselves in any way, maybe attention-seeking for retribution and they will keep this same narrow mindset for everyone they meet. In a technological world, TV shows and films have a bigger impact on us than we think and can begin to influence our views and intolerances if it is not done correctly. Another reason this show is a bad representation for those suffering from their mental health is that the show didn't encourage those suffering to reach out for help, instead, it only showed how getting support can go wrong and didn't air it in a positive light at all. In the final episode of the show, the last tape recording is addressed to Mr Porter, a guidance counsellor at Hannah's school whom, when Hannah explained her suicidal thoughts to him, denied her claims and didn't give her the proper help she needed. This depiction could deter so many young people from reaching out as it showed asking for help as something shameful to do and that people won't believe you even if you try. Many have argued that as Thirteen Reasons Why is just a TV show, that interaction may have just been used to further the plot for creative choices. However, the whole tone of the show is like this, throughout all three seasons. A graphic dramatization of Hannah's suicide within the show had to be removed by Netflix in July 2019 due to how much it affected people and the popular streaming site only introduced warnings cards stating the themes that will be shown throughout the season in March 2018, a whole year after the show initially aired. This controversial show has meant that the true-life experiences of those dealing with their mental health have been falsely shown, therefore spreading misinformation about the reality of mental illnesses.
Opposed to good representation, bad representation impacts negatively way more than good representation impacts positively. One way in which this is true is that it makes recovery more difficult due to people feeling less confident. Everybody fighting mental illnesses are in a completely different stage of recovery. Some have just begun their journey, some are so close to a full recovery. But no matter where you are in your journey, bad representation affects everyone. In most cases, it drops people's confidence as they believe that the misrepresentation that has been depicted in a show or on stage is how people actually see them. It can put them multiple steps back and undo, sometimes, months of hard work on themselves. The bad representation can also promote discrimination in the workplace, school or any social situations. When incorrect, negative connotations of mental illnesses are put out it can severely affect the way that sufferers can work in a workplace. Inaccuracy or misunderstanding of a portrayal of mental illness can cause abuse in many settings, for example, if someone with schizophrenia is portrayed as insane, violent and many more harmful stereotypes on a TV show, coworkers, friends or even family may begin to distance themselves from that person as they have been fed false information about that mental illness. In a 2006 survey, 60% of Americans said that they portrayed people with schizophrenia to be violent. In most cases, schizophrenia does not connotate to violence or insanity (only in extremely severe cases). People with schizophrenia can act unpredictably at times due to the nature of their condition but, when encouraged by the people around them to seek help or when influenced by helpful, positive representation, they can get better and feel happier. In the UK, 5.9 out of 100 people suffer from Generalised Anxiety Disorder and 6.7 out of 100 have attempted suicide at some point in their lifetime. A good representation that is realistic and healthy is needed now more than ever.
Leading on from this, it sparks the question: what causes misrepresentation to happen? What sparks a chain of events that allow it to occur? Most (mainly screen) producers and writers include a mental illness storyline for their need to 'check a box'. It's a self-indulging narrative they can tell to claim they've included 'diversity' within their project. Normally, the character's storyline isn't produced properly as it has been rushed due to not truly caring about representing a mental illness positively. Sometimes shows will purposefully misrepresent mental illnesses to make their film/show funny or be the punchline of a joke. This causes conflict, however, conflict causes interest, therefore it can still pull an audience in. Thirteen Reasons Why (which I mentioned previously) was big in the media due to its poor portrayal of mental illnesses. This caused people to go and check it out and viewing figures soared overnight. Many people unknowingly watch and support entertainment that disregards and belittles sufferers just because they love to 'hate-watch'. Just because a producer wanted to check an invisible box or cause conflict to gain media clicks, it has caused a stigma against mental illnesses that will stay with people for a long time, whether they know it or not.
But like with most things, it's good to surround yourself with the positives rather than the negatives. One example of this is a play, previously shown at the Duke of York's Theatre, called The Son. It's the final puzzle piece of a trilogy of plays by playwright Florian Zeller and was directed by Michael Longhurst. The Son tells the story of a young boy, Nicholas, who is going through a rough time due to his parent's divorce. He plays truant, lies compulsively and also suffers from severe depression. It shows not only his struggles but also his family's struggle of trying to understand what's wrong with him. Nicholas' father, Pierre, (played by John Light) almost refuses to see Nichola's emotions for what they are: a mental illness. The Son is such a heartbreaking, intense and frustrating play. It's very clever in how it portrays Nicholas' depression and never sugarcoats it or hides the effects of it to the audience. Laurie Kynaston's portrayal of the character brings it to life wonderfully. There is only one time in the whole show where Nicholas' smiles as if he is truly happy, a scene where he dances to the song 'Happy' by Pharrell Williams alongside his father and his father's fiance, Sofia (Amaka Okafor). It's also the only scene in which everybody feels like a family. But halfway through this, seemingly, cheerful moment, Nicholas stops suddenly, a bout of depression swarming over him and he flees to his room. This moment felt so real and well done. It reflects the reality of unpredictable mental illnesses well and shows that just because someone may seem happy and are smiling on the outside, it doesn't necessarily equate to happiness on the inside. The realistic representation of mental health in this show was so amazing to see especially as the main character is a male and seventeen years old. Suicide is more common in men than in women, men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women. So seeing a young male character go through the experience of depression on stage for thousands of people a week to see in the West End could potentially help somebody. If someone is suffering they could be inspired by what they saw to ask for help. The Son also didn't hold back in it's more intense moments. It showed the painful truth of someone struggling with suicidal thoughts and portrayed the experience in a distressing but necessary way. This is particularly as, like in the show, many people still don't fully understand or refuse to understand the severity of mental illnesses. A lot of refusals to accept, refusal to be educated, and swatting the problem away are just a few key factors into the denial of mental illnesses. For example, in one scene Anne, Nicholas' mother (played by Amanda Abbington) suggests to Nicholas that the reason he is feeling depressed is due to a breakup that happened a few months prior: 'Your father told me you'd broken up with a girl? Is that it?'. Nicholas tells her that they never even dated and the stage directions heavily show Anne's reaction to this: 'Pause. Anne still doesn't understand.'. Pierre especially denies that there is something wrong with his son. He is a very matter of fact man who grew up surrounded by family who urged him to 'man up' at every opportunity and that failure equates to weakness. In the climax of the show during an argument between the two, Pierre says: 'Explain it to me! What's going on? Are you on drugs?......When I was your age, my mother was ill, I didn't see my father any more, I had money problems, but I fought on.......What's happened to you? What is there in your life that's so dramatic you're not able to go to school like everybody else?'. His uneducated state of mind causes a spiral of unfortunate events leading to a devastating conclusion. The representation of a realistic character suffering from a mental illness not only benefits the sufferers themselves but also anyone who doesn't understand mental illnesses or has never been educated on them. It may change their perspective on what they are and also how it not only affects them but everyone around them. Seeing stories such as The Son on stage opens up so many opportunities for people suffering to be seen, heard and understood.
Luckily, we are currently living in an age in which representation is improving. Fewer situations are occurring in which sufferers feel as if they are being belittled or misrepresented. But the industry still has a long way to go. There are many ways in which the stage and screen can both improve their representation to properly reflect reality. One way is to start showing more characters who recover. There are many shows in which a character dies and it is relevant to the plot to portray an intense/upsetting experience, however, having more characters that even partially recover and are shown to still lead a life afterwards is essential in showing sufferers that they can reach out for help and be successful. Some people with mental illnesses see themselves as deluded or fake more often than not and, sadly, experience (whether they know it or not) internalised mentalism as their illness causes them to not even believe themselves. So seeing realistic depictions of mental health in which a character is heard and improves is vital so that people suffering from this may start to build up their self-image and confidence that they are correct. Another way stage and screen can improve their representation is by reaching out to people who have gone through mental illnesses to help build and create a narrative. Quite often, the writers creating stories about mental health have never truly suffered from anything they are writing about which is often the fatal fall as to why the stories never come across correctly. So introducing someone to the writer's room who has experienced that could have an extremely helpful insight into the realities of mental health rather than have an uneducated, misunderstood approach to it. It would benefit the studio/show and the person putting forward ideas massively as it would mean success for the show and an amazing experience for a potential young writer who may not have had that kind of opportunity before. However, in an industry full of large cooperations and booming studios, it can sometimes feel difficult to get voices heard amongst the crowd. So what are some ways in which we as a society can help improve representation? One way is that we can praise and support shows that do this properly. Instead of investing our energy into slamming bad shows for their decisions, revert our interest into the great shows that show helpful, realistic depictions. For some productions, bad press is better than no press at all so if we show our appreciation to the good ones, it will make some people very clear the overall views of the general public. Another way in which we can make a difference is to use social media and encourage a discussion. Going back to my very first point, we seek refuge in social media constantly. For some, it's the only haven they have. So starting a discussion over mental health and how they are represented will be seen by those people, making them feel included and part of a conversation. Also, conversing over shows and debating over how well they handled certain plotlines and character decisions can help sufferers to feel like they have a voice in the matter. A final way in which we as an audience can help to improve representation is to encourage hope, empowerment and self-love. In a world of negativity and toxicity, to improve our and others wellbeings, encouraging self-care and love are extremely important. While representation on stage and screen is important to sufferers, what's even more important is how accepted and represented they feel within our society. Showing that mental illnesses are not a barrier and rather a scenic route can make all the difference in making someone feel like they matter. The representation of mental health on stage and screen isn't quite yet a true reflection of our reality but we are evolving together. Slowly but surely, the entertainment mirror facing our society will show what's truly there and will save lives because of it.
References
Masso, G. (2019, January 23). Hamilton helps West End achieve highest-grossing year ever. The Stage. Retrieved from: https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2019/hamilton-helps-west-end-achieve-highest-grossing-year-ever/
Samaritans (2019). Suicide facts and figures. [online]. (Last updated January 2019). Available at: https://www.samaritans.org/about-samaritans/research-policy/suicide-facts-and-figures/ [Accessed 13 December 2019]
ICANotes (2018). Ways Mental Illness Is Commonly Misrepresented In The Media. [online]. (Last updated 11 April 2018). Available at: https://www.icanotes.com/2018/04/11/ways-mental-illness-is-commonly-misrepresented-in-the-media/ [Accessed 15 December 2019]
Todd, C.L. (2018, May 9). Here's What 7 Mental Health Experts Really Think About '13 Reasons Why'. SELF. Retrieved from: https://www.self.com/story/13-reasons-why-season-two-mental-health-experts-commentary
Mind (2017). How common are mental health problems?. [online]. (Last updated April 2017). Available at: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/statistics-and-facts-about-mental-health/how-common-are-mental-health-problems/#.XhDggxf7RQI [Accessed 20 December 2019]
Masso, G. (2019, January 23). Hamilton helps West End achieve highest-grossing year ever. The Stage. Retrieved from: https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2019/hamilton-helps-west-end-achieve-highest-grossing-year-ever/
Samaritans (2019). Suicide facts and figures. [online]. (Last updated January 2019). Available at: https://www.samaritans.org/about-samaritans/research-policy/suicide-facts-and-figures/ [Accessed 13 December 2019]
ICANotes (2018). Ways Mental Illness Is Commonly Misrepresented In The Media. [online]. (Last updated 11 April 2018). Available at: https://www.icanotes.com/2018/04/11/ways-mental-illness-is-commonly-misrepresented-in-the-media/ [Accessed 15 December 2019]
Todd, C.L. (2018, May 9). Here's What 7 Mental Health Experts Really Think About '13 Reasons Why'. SELF. Retrieved from: https://www.self.com/story/13-reasons-why-season-two-mental-health-experts-commentary
Mind (2017). How common are mental health problems?. [online]. (Last updated April 2017). Available at: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/statistics-and-facts-about-mental-health/how-common-are-mental-health-problems/#.XhDggxf7RQI [Accessed 20 December 2019]
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