9 TV Shows That Portray Mental Health in a Positive Light
Mental health is important and should be discussed more frequently.
Mental health stories can be hard to find on TV, but when they are told well, they can feel surprisingly real. This list brings together shows that touch on depression, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, and other struggles without turning those characters into punchlines.
That matters because so many screen portrayals still lean on stereotypes, which can make people feel even more isolated. These series take a different approach, showing messy lives, complicated relationships, and moments of honesty that many viewers will recognize.
If you want a TV lineup that treats mental health with more care than usual, this one is worth a look. Read on.
1. This Is Us
The series spotlights mental health. Perfectionist Randall suffers from panic attacks, while his brother-in-law Toby battles depression. The family also grapples with post-traumatic stress disorder, multi-generational addiction, and body insecurity.
As noted by Dr. John Gottman, a renowned marriage researcher, "Understanding mental health issues within families can foster empathy and support." He emphasizes the importance of open conversations about mental health, which aligns with the show's portrayal of these struggles.
Getty Images2. You're The Worst
The show makes a bold statement, presenting a twisted love story about two people who seem to hate each other. Worst wasn't afraid to show the "ugly" sides of people dealing with military veteran PTSD experiences and obsessive emotional turmoil.
Stephen Falk said that the series intended to focus on Gretchen's "coping mechanisms" and how even her relationship with Jimmy couldn't miraculously cure her depression.
Byron Cohen/FX3. In My Skin
This series tells the story of a Welsh teenager struggling to find her identity while battling her mother's debilitating bipolar disorder. It showcases those struggling with mental health disorders, as well as their friends and family who are affected by the diagnosis.
Llewellyn shared this with The Guardian.
BBC Three
4. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
The show shifts from themes of depression, fixation, and anxiety to revealing Rebecca's borderline personality disorder diagnosis. Bloom tells Variety that he honestly hopes it helps others come to terms with themselves.
YouTube
While This Is Us shows Randall and Toby’s struggles, it echoes the AITA debate over whether to skip a brother’s intervention for mental health.
Should I Skip My Brothers Intervention for My Mental Health?5. BoJack Horseman
BoJack, voiced by Will Arnett, is a washed-up sitcom star whose career has been plagued by drug dependency, existential crises, and apathy. Creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg used the medium of animation to illustrate the effects of mental illness.
He explained to Slash Film about the series.
Netflix
6. Girls
Lena Dunham gave a voice to those with obsessive-compulsive disorder. In the series, Dunham's Hannah Horvath truly struggles with OCD, and it's not presented for comedic purposes.
Dunham told NPR that "when you talk to somebody who has OCD, their habits are super specific, and so I wouldn't really know how to perform anybody else's version of it."
Hbo/Entertainment Pictures via ZUMA Press
7. Maniac
The lead star Jonah Hill plays Owen, a newly diagnosed schizophrenic who grounds the show. Writer Patrick Somerville incorporated his own personal experiences with mental health professionals, including his neurologist father and psychotherapist wife.
Somerville tells Variety that it's like a "slow letting go of love and support, and it's somewhat unintentional, but every person involved has a different relationship with it."
Netflix
8. Modern Love
Anne Hathaway portrays a woman with bipolar disorder trying to date. The episode navigates the entire range of emotions, and the role "wrecked" her emotionally.
The Oscar winner expressed that she was truly honored to be asked to be a part of this story.
Christopher Saunders/Amazon Studios
9. Pure
The series spotlights a specific type of OCD characterized by X-rated, out-of-control thinking. Pure is filled with plenty of laughs but also solemn moments of feeling trapped in one's own mind.
Swain told Channel 4 that "the show is about finding your people, and if one person watches it and feels less alone, then I'll be happy."
HBO Max
For every TV show that portrays what it's like to live with a mental disorder in a realistic way, another seems to make a villain out of its mentally ill character. This can amplify the social stigma attached to people suffering from mental illnesses.
Thankfully, there are shows that don’t do that, and they're helping to normalize experiences that many people go through. We are glad our TV show list did justice to this.
Randall’s panic attacks and Toby’s depression hit hard, but this AITA over roommate cleanliness gets real. Struggling With Roommates Mental Health: AITA for Wanting Cleanliness?
