Mental Health is a topic that has long been stigmatized by our society. Anyone who wishes to seek professional help regarding their mental health is conveniently termed as “crazy”. But fortunately, in recent years we are seeing more and more conversations being started with respect to the same. Even cinema is trying its hand at contributing towards sparking up more conversations. However, more often than not, movies seem to stigmatize mental health disorders. However, there are a few films that deal with this subject with the true respect and accuracy it deserves while not steering away from providing quality entertainment. Here’s a list of the 10 Best Movies About Mental Health.
This critically acclaimed film is a masterpiece in its true sense. Silver Linings Playbook tries to redefine what having a mental illness feels like and all the stigma associated with it. The main characters Tiffany and Pat, seemingly “normal” and educated, suffer from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder respectively, thereby trying to reinforce the fact that one doesn’t have to be “crazy” in order to be diagnosed with mental illness.
This 1999 film focuses on a girl, Sussana, who suffers from Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and is admitted to a women’s mental hospital after surviving a suicide attempt. As she meets women who are both identical to her as the well complete opposite of her, Sussana begins to discover who and what she really is.
Goodwill Hunting is a perfectly cheerful and humorous classic. It revolves around the character of Will Hunting, a janitor at MIT, who is exceptionally bright. He has gifted intellectual skills and kills time by solving puzzles that even the brightest college students can’t seem to figure out. However, this extraordinary mind isn’t free from trouble since Will had an abusive childhood. After a couple of meetings with a therapist, Will successfully defeats his depression and starts a new life.
A Beautiful Mind is based on the true story of John Forbes Nash Jr, who was a revolutionary Mathematician and won the Nobel Prize in Economics. But this did not assure him an easy life as he was subsequently diagnosed with Schizophrenia which forced him to undergo extreme treatments that eventually damaged his cognitive abilities.
5. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape portrays a variety of mental disorders, ranging from autism and depression to eating disorders, with utmost authenticity. It focuses on the story of a young man in a small town Iowa who has to take care of his morbidly obese mother and his autistic younger brother.
Beautiful Boy portrays how addiction can hamper a family and the struggles that one has to go through when a loved one is suffering from addiction. Starring Timothee Chalamet and Steve Carell in prominent roles, this film shows the repercussions that addiction can have on a family and how far a father can go to save his son’s life.
7. Black Swan
This film shows the ugly side of being a perfectionist. Nina Sayers, a professional ballerina, suffers from a variety of problems as she strives to become perfect. The immense pressure causes her to stop eating in order to remain skinny and subsequently stab herself in the stomach as a part of her act to kill the white swan. All this ultimately leads to her downfall as she fails to cope with the constant pressure.
8. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Cuckoo’s Nest is based on Ken Kesey’s 1962 novel, which has been adapted for theater on a number of occasions. The Library of Congress chose the picture for preservation in 1993 because it was “culturally, historically, or aesthetically important.” According to the American Film Institute, it’s the 33rd-best American movie ever, and Nurse Ratched is the sixth best movie villain.
This film deals with the delicate topics of survivor guilt and PTSD. It is centered around an affluent family in Chicago that is going through the heartbreaking loss of their older son which deeply strains the relationship between all the three remaining members of the family. When their younger son attempts suicide, they make a firm decision to rebuild their lives.
10. It’s Kind Of A Funny Story
If you want to watch a film that delicately deals with the subject of mental health and doesn’t leave you feeling somewhat dark or heavy then you have to watch this film. It’s Kind of a Funny Story is the story of a teenage boy Craig who gets himself admitted to the psychiatric ward after contemplating suicide and comes out appreciating life a bit more after spending a week there and meeting a plethora of characters who are fighting their own battles.
What do you think of our list of the 10 best movies about mental health? Think we missed one? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.