Some TV shows like Eastenders, and Call the Midwife, to name a couple, have covered the topic of mental health in different ways. Eastenders has featured storylines where Phil struggled with depression, Stacey with bipolar disorder and Trixie with alcohol addiction. Meanwhile Radio 4 drama The Archers has also tackled the issue, with the characters Alice and Ben suffering with alcohol addiction and mental breakdowns. It’s great that mental health problems are no longer as taboo as they once were and we get to see such open and honest representations, as it’s something that affects so many people every day.
Mental health is also explored in films such as Shine. The film shows how the character David Helfgott (played by Geoffrey Rush) ends up in hospital as a result of mental health troubles made worse by the pressure of fame and a difficult relationship with his father. Other films like the new Mike Leigh offering Hard Truths also show the need for awareness, we need better representation in the media to help reduce the stigma associated with these issues.
Not all media does a good job of handling discussion about mental health sensitively. Some reinforce negative stereotypes, and this seems to be common when the media discusses celebrity's personal lives. Even in media that is doing mental health representation well, people with a
learning disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
are underrepresented in these storylines. When we think about how people with a learning disability are around 2.5 times more likely to have mental health problems, this doesn’t make sense. There is work to be done here for sure, people with a learning disability deserve to have their mental health struggles represented in media too, to increase awareness and understanding.
By Mencap
Amy Clarke