Mental Health In Cinema: From Stigma To Sensitivity

By Author: ImPerfect
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Cinema’s Influence on Mental Health Perception:

Cinema has long been a powerful force in shaping societal attitudes. As a mass communication medium, it doesn’t merely reflect cultural norms but also actively constructs them. Mental health, as a recurring theme, has been portrayed in ways that either stigmatize or sensitize viewers. Bollywood and Hollywood have historically favored symptoms and diagnoses that are theatrically dramatic. Movies like Psycho and Khilona depicted mental illness with exaggerated traits, reinforcing harmful stereotypes. Characters were either dangerous, laughable, or pitiable, undermining the reality of psychological disorders.

In India, mental illness has often been equated with supernatual forces, as seen in Bhool Bulaiyya. While engaging, such portrayals reinforce misconceptions and delay the acceptance of mental health as a medical issue.

A Shift Toward Empathy and Realism:

With the merging of digital platforms and global awareness, filmmakers now consult mental health experts. Films like Taare Zameen Par and Dear Zindagi have sensitively depicted learning disabilities ...
... and depression, promoting understanding and empathy. Internationally, films like Silver Linings Playbook and A Beautiful Mind present characters with mental health struggles as multidimensional, helping reduce stigma. Japanese cinema, such as A Silent Voice, showcases emotional turmoil with subtlety and grace.

Cinema’s Dual Role: Positive and Negative Impacts

Films like My Name is Khan and Barfi! raised awareness about autism and Asperger’s. Good Will Hunting promoted therapy and mental health help-seeking. On the flip side, movies like The Shining or Kyon Ki link mental illness with danger or depict therapists as untrustworthy, which discourages people from seeking help.

Cultural and Societal Lens

In Collectivist societies, mental illness is often seen as a family shame. Films reflect this dynamic, as in Judgmental Hai Kya, where family disbelief intensifies the protagonist’s isolation. Cinematic depictions often blur psychological symptoms with spiritual possession, further complicating the public’s understanding of mental disorders.

Toward Better Representation:

Films like The Father and Under the Shadow incorporate lived experiences and metaphors to deepen audience understanding.

Suggestions for Filmmakers:

Consult mental health professionals
Portray nuanced recovery stories
Humanize characters beyond their illness
Highlight rural and underserved narratives

Cinema as a tool for Change:

Movies can be mirrors or magnifiers. They can reinforce stigma or spark empathy. At ImPerfect Psychotherapy, we believe storytelling is healing. As mental health professionals and storytellers, we urge filmmakers and audiences alike to champion narratives rooted in truth, dignity and care. Lets watch with compassion. Let’s talk beyond the screen. Let’s write a new script- one that heals.

By Urveez Kakalia and Krupa Abraham