Netflix is doing their part to help end the stigma surrounding mental illness with an increased number of shows that are openly centered around it. The most recent of which is Spinning Out, which premiered on January 1st of this year. Starting 2020 off with a bang, many show producers are following suit and aren’t afraid to show such a sensitive subject in front of millions of viewers. For those who are fans of Spinning Out, and shows that focus on mental illness, period, there are plenty more where that came from.
For some, it can help to see it normalized in film and TV. For others, it’s just interesting to see something we don’t know much about portrayed on the big screen. Regardless of what the reason is, the truth remains the same: The more we normalize it, the more widely-accepted it will be for future generations, which is a good thing. Here are ten more shows to check out for those seeking something similar to Netflix’s most recent hit.
This Is Us
This Is Us has long been hailed as one of television’s greatest modern series. With intense and relatable storylines, there’s not much that this show does wrong, if anything at all. It’s still going and one of the most memorable scenes for many fans seems to be when Randall has a stress-induced panic attack.
Panic attacks can happen on their own or as a result of something more deeply-rooted, such as anxiety disorder. This entire scene was relatable and very accurately portrayed.
United States Of Tara
The scriptwriters and producers of United States of Tara made an effort to stay as true as possible to the real symptoms and habits of someone with dissociative identity disorder, according to the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation. While the show does take some dramatic liberties for the sake of helping viewers follow along, it’s a good starting point for those who struggle with the disorder. While not fully accurate, it does provide some insight into what life might be like, and is, for those suffering with and dealing with DID.
Orange Is The New Black
Orange is the New Black addresses a wide variety of issues. Similar to the racism addressed in Spinning Out, Orange is the New Black covers similar civil and human rights issues, which are very relatable in today’s world. As far as mental health goes; depression, PTSD, substance abuse, and paranoia are only a few of the things viewers can expect from this Netflix original. This show hit the ground running and was successful during every season it ran, making it worthy of a good binge-sesh.
Shameless
Despite its humorous moments, Shameless does address the very real issue of bipolar disorder. This time, from a father’s standpoint (Frank Gallagher). Prior to taking the role, Cameron Monaghan did his research and read autobiographies about bipolar disorder.
This allowed him to get a feel for what life would be like living with the disorder, helping him to get into character. In turn, it became that much more relatable to viewers who were familiar with or suffered from bipolar disorder.
Please Like Me
On Hulu, viewers in need of a new show can watch Please Like Me, which is an Australian show that centers around Josh Thomas and his mental health. He deals with anything from panic attacks to psychiatric hospitalization and though it has its funny moments, it’s also super realistic. Those Josh encounters on the show also suffer from things such as bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety disorder, making it a real wild card as far as which illness will be seen next.
Jessica Jones
Those familiar with Jessica Jones know that it’s not only a great show (especially to binge-watch!) but also speaks highly to those suffering from PTSD. The intention of the show wasn’t to show how strong a survivor the main character was, but to portray the messy, realistic side of suffering from a disorder. The healing process was much more the insight for the show, from dealing with the past all the way to learning how to cope with it in the present.
Girls
Lena Dunham plays the role of Hannah on the show Girls, plays a writer who gets diagnosed with OCD from the stress of her career. Interestingly enough, Dunham has OCD in real life, so the role was much more than just a character for her.
Much of the show is very accurate, with the story reflecting how much worse OCD can get when a person who has it is put under extreme stress. Flare-ups and relapses are all part of it, and Girls showcases it for what it is.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is much more of a feel-good show than one you’d think would have a finger on the pulse of mental illness, but it does. Ellie Kemper plays the role of Kimmy Schmidt, who is diagnosed with PTSD after going through a string of horrible traumatic events. The result is a woman who remains in bright spirits and does her best to cope, but underneath it all is still the reality that she suffers from something dark and hidden.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Referred to as a ‘musical dramedy’, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend provides a different look into how mental illness is seen. With entertaining and unique songs about both depression and anxiety, both are shed in a light that allows them to be coped with. Rachel Bloom plays the role of Rebecca Bloom, responsible for the memorable musical numbers, and she brings the entire performance home. This show, like many others, is created to entice a laugh, but also sheds significant light on the very real issues that many face on a day to day basis.
My Mad Fat Diary
My Mad Fat Diary premiered back in 2013, but it’s still a pretty accurate portrayal of what it can be like to live with a mental illness. It was initially based on the novel, My Fat, Mad Teenage Diary by Rae Earl. It follows the life of 16-year-old Rae after being released from a four-month stay at a psychiatric hospital. The story unwraps as she struggles to find the love she desires, both in another person and for herself.
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