The contagious glamour of being depressed
It is crucial for the media to stop romanticizing mental health issues.
An example illustrating this is the 2017 TV series “13 Reasons Why”.
Those who watched the series know that the main character, Hannah Baker, commits suicide, leaving people with 13 cassettes in which she tells how they were involved in her decision.
The series has provoked a lot of controversies.
The center of lively discussions was whether the show is an ethical example of media portrayal of mental disorders and whether the series is valuable or harmful for viewers.
A 2021 study by Hua Wang and Juliet J. Parris, analyzing suicide-related scenes, defined that 27.7% of these scenes violated WHO guidelines, using the language that sensitizes or normalizes suicide.
Found in “13 Reasons Why”, romanticized or glamorized elements of mental disorders illustrate false media representations of mental health issues.
First, romanticizing and commercializing characters struggling with psychological disorders create an unrealistic image of people with such problems.
One of the mistakes in depicting sensational characters and covering the topic of suicide and mental disorders, such as depression, is that the unrealistic portrayal of the issue turns a problem into an idealized form of entertainment for the general public, usually ignorant of these issues in the first place.
Such images can provoke copycat reactions, especially among vulnerable groups such as teenagers and youth.
A 2022 study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders presents statistical data indicating that since the release of “13 Reasons Why” on Mar. 31, 2017, there has been an increase in “worsening depression and suicidal ideation/behavior in adolescents.”
Second, the romanticized image feted and promoted by the media can exacerbate the stigma surrounding people struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, as well as the general stigma associated with mental health issues, which in turn can harm that particular group because, besides their condition, they will have to face and overcome a degree of social stigma.
Lastly, according to the American Psychiatric Association, inaccurate portrayal of mental disorders in media can also cause self-stigma in people struggling with it, which can even influence their recovery.
Thus, romanticizing characters with psychological problems or excessive graphics and glamorization of the series can harm the general public, which receives misinformation about people suffering from mental disorders and the patients themselves, who are trying to overcome their conditions.
However, it is reasonable to mention that “13 Reasons Why” still shares several points and effects with adequate media representation.
Some say that this TV show plays an important educational role. The story of Hanna Baker let viewers, especially teenagers, discuss seemingly taboo topics; one positive outcome was an initiated dialogue, raising awareness of mental health issues.
The researcher Emily Krebs shares the same opinion. In her 2019 study, she “frames” the series as “a form of scientific pedagogy that allows audiences to engage in suicide prevention in productive ways.”
“13 Reasons Why” was an attempt to talk about mental problems and raise awareness.
Even though there were certain educational moments for the audience, expert analyses show that one cannot confidently claim this attempt a 100% success.
What is certain, however, is that the show once again emphasized one particular fact.
There remains a need for the representation of people with mental disorders in the media, including in films and TV shows.
However, there are specific responsibilities that should be kept in mind by directors and screenwriters who want to incorporate this theme into their work.
One of the challenges is to accurately and ethically depict characters struggling with mental health while avoiding romanticizing these issues.