In recent years, films and television shows like 1 Essays

In recent years, films and television shows like 13 Reasons Why, Split, and To the Bone have come under fire for their portrayals of mental illness. Many believe that they sensationalize these conditions and perpetuate harmful misconceptions. That said, there are also people who appreciate the conversation that these fictional portrayals spark and find comfort in seeing characters that they can relate to. I've asked several of my friends and acquaintances that work in entertainment for their take on portrayals of mental illness in the media.13 Reasons Why is quite possibly the most controversial series to come out this year. Based on Jay Asher's book by the same name, 13 Reasons Why tells the story of teenage Hannah Baker's life and events leading up to her suicide. Two friends I spoke with, both entertainers, had very different reactions to the series. John B. took issue with it stating "Many people I know are legitimately being triggered by this show, I don't think a show can exact ly be called good if it triggers it's viewers..." Rhiannon C. had a different take stating, "13 Reasons Why was very important for someone like me, who does deal with high functioning depression much like Hannah. It was refreshing to see a character featuring this subject matter that I could relate to, and I'm sure many other can say the same." Almost on the same level of controversy as 13 Reasons Why, is Marti Noxon's film To the Bone starring Lily Collins which also came out this year. "It was really validating," says Angela Gulner, creator and star of the series Binge which is also about eating disorders. However, most do not share Gulner's view. "I feel like people are going to come away from this movie with some seriously unrealistic expectations about eating disorder rehab," says Ramsey S. "I am aware that Lily struggled with an ED and that the writer/director had one as well and is telling her story through the movie but to me, it just doesn't justify a feel good' [. . .] mov ie about a mental illness as fatal as ED." "There are some depictions [of mental illness in films and on television] that I think are pretty accurate," says actress Madchen Amick, who has appeared in numerous television shows and films including Twin Peaks and Riverdale, "I loved Silver Linings Playbook." Amick became an advocate for mental health after her son was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. She created the campaign #StrongerThanStigma and has been open about her experiences while raising a child with mental illness."Many use mental illness gratuitously though and only look at it from a surface level perspective. As an actress and an advocate, I'd like to see more comprehensive depictions."It's undeniable that media portrayals do have an impact on how people view mental illness. Unless someone is living with an illness or knows someone who is, popular film and television depictions will most likely be the images that they have in their minds of conditions like Anorexia Nervosa or Bipolar Disorder. At the same time, if it weren't for these depictions, they might have never been made aware of the illnesses. There are positive and negative affects of portraying mental illness in the media so hopefully going forward, writers and directors will learn what, and what not, to do so new works may have a more positive impact.