Psychological Disorders in Film | Mental Health Illness

QUESTION

This section’s topic discusses Mental Health Illness in a potentially amusing/surprising way. BE AWARE of how you are commenting and speaking of mental health illness. BE RESPECTFUL of the disorders. These are real health illnesses we are discussing, and thus, there are real people suffering from them. You are allowed to be amused at how Hollywood may get it right or wrong sometimes, but be mindful of your commentary. Posts that are disrespectful will be removed and will not earn points.   This discussion’s topic? Psychological Disorders/Mental Health Illness in Film Over the years, Hollywood has created many movies about psychological disorders.

Unfortunately, they are mostly made for entertainment and often portray disorders incorrectly. In spite of this, I think we can still create an interesting discussion on this topic. Here are a few of my favorite movies: Split (2016) Sybil (2007) Fight Club (1999) Girl, Interrupted (1999) The Soloist (2009) A Beautiful Mind (2001) Black Swan (2010) Shutter Island (2010) As Good as It Gets (1997) The Lion King (1994) Alice in Wonderland (2010/1951) The Princess and the Frog (2009) Frozen (2013) Wait a minute…. You might have notice how the list devolved into kids movies. Sometimes, when Hollywood caricatures characters, they go a little overboard. These characters are not meant to be diagnosed with a mental health illness, but may show some symptoms.   Your mission for this Discussion: Pick a movie and watch it.

Discuss how mental health illness is portrayed, intentionally or not, in your movie. If you’re not sure what movie to pick, choose one of the first few from my list; these movies are clear about the disorders portrayed in them. PROMPTS FOR INITIAL POST (answer all): Which movie did you watch? What disorder do you think this movie was portraying? (You’ll have to identify the character with the disorder, obviously, as well) What evidence from the movie supports your conclusion? List at least three symptoms from one disorder you are suggesting was portrayed by one character from your film. Give a brief description of one scene where each symptom was displayed. (This is the most important part of the initial prompt; one character, one disorder, three symptoms of that disorder with evidence)

ANSWER

The portrayal of mental health disorders in movies can vary greatly in terms of accuracy and realism. Some movies make an effort to depict these disorders in a sensitive and accurate manner, while others may rely on stereotypes or exaggerations for entertainment purposes.

One movie that has been praised for its portrayal of a mental health disorder is “Silver Linings Playbook” (2012). The film portrays the character of Pat Solitano, played by Bradley Cooper, who has bipolar disorder. The symptoms of bipolar disorder include extreme mood swings, impulsive behavior, and difficulty with relationships.

In the movie, Pat exhibits several symptoms of bipolar disorder. For example, he experiences manic episodes characterized by heightened energy levels, rapid speech, and impulsive behavior. One scene that illustrates this is when Pat obsessively reads books and becomes hyperactive, pacing around his house and talking rapidly.

Another symptom portrayed in the movie is depression. Pat’s character experiences periods of deep sadness, loss of interest, and hopelessness. There are scenes where he isolates himself, struggles with negative thoughts, and displays a lack of motivation.

Additionally, the film addresses the challenges of maintaining stable relationships for individuals with bipolar disorder. Pat’s struggles with interpersonal relationships, including his rocky relationship with his ex-wife, are depicted throughout the movie.

It’s worth noting that while “Silver Linings Playbook” received praise for its portrayal of mental illness, it’s important to remember that each person’s experience with a disorder can be unique. Movies should not be seen as definitive representations of mental health conditions but rather as storytelling devices that can raise awareness and start conversations.