In recent years, teen television has come to an era of dialogues regarding mental health, where characters have portrayed mental health struggles like anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and trauma. From “Euphoria” to “Ginny and Georgia”, therapy is no longer taboo; it’s watched on TV, in therapy sessions, and sometimes even trending. Therapy has become a common trope in young adult television, raising the question: Are these depictions helping teens learn about mental health or reinforcing negative misconceptions and myths?
How therapy is portrayed on teen TV does more than shape views of mental health, as it can impact whether audience members feel comfortable seeking help. Statistics collected by the National Alliance on Mental Illness concluded that children aged 8 to 17 experience a mental health disorder each year, and nearly 60% of depressed teens receive no treatment. The gap between treatment in teens can be seen in “13 Reasons Why” when the inability of a guidance counselor to help a student who was having mental problems drew criticism from mental health professionals and advocates, some of whom warned that it would discourage students from trusting adults in their schools.
Conversely, “Never Have I Ever” has been praised for showing therapy as mainstream by showing the main character Devi’s therapy sessions with a culturally aware therapist. Therapy isn’t the only component that viewers want to be portrayed realistically, but the therapist is just as important. Audiences want to see therapists like themselves, like LGBTQ+ therapists, therapists of color, and therapists who understand real lived experiences.
A lot of the mental health community and teens are calling for more realistic, relatable, and authentic efforts of therapy shown in the media. According to a 2022 Mental Health America Teen Poll, over 70% of teens agreed that therapy on TV should demonstrate realistic ups and downs. Young adult viewers don’t want to be shown rapid resolutions or complete failure but rather actual emotional and mental development over time on TV.
Portraying therapy as an empowering way of life can help decrease the stigma surrounding the topic and encourage teens to prioritize their mental well-being and seek professional assistance when needed. There is far more that needs to be done to ensure that these depictions are as positive and realistic as possible. Every day, society is becoming more educated on mental health, and simultaneously, the media needs to be one of the main ways therapy is made a part of normalcy.
Ultimately, mental health is a part of who we are as a society, and the more we become comfortable talking about it on screen and off-screen, the more we can create a society where being open about receiving help is a sign of strength and not weakness.
Clarice Carney
this is a well written analogy of what needs to take place dealing with mental health because it should be an open discussion by teens, adults and therapists. Thank you.