More than just entertainment, these shows offer thoughtful, realistic portrayals of mental health — breaking stigmas and starting conversations.

🎭 Why Mental Health Representation Matters

For decades, television portrayed mental illness through caricatures or one-dimensional plots. But in recent years, a shift has emerged — creators are focusing on authentic, nuanced depictions of mental health issues, giving voice to struggles often faced in silence.

Realistic portrayals can:

• Normalize seeking help

• Foster empathy and understanding

• Break down harmful stereotypes

• Start important conversations at home and beyond

🧠 8 TV Shows That Get Mental Health Right

1. BoJack Horseman (Netflix)

Topics: Depression, addiction, anxiety
Why it’s accurate: This animated dramedy explores the complexity of self-destructive behavior with raw honesty. It doesn’t romanticize pain — it exposes how mental illness affects relationships and self-worth over time.

2. This Is Us (NBC)

Topics: Anxiety, grief, trauma, generational mental health
Why it’s accurate: The Pearson family deals with personal loss, PTSD, and panic attacks in deeply human ways. Mental health is shown as ongoing and intertwined with family and identity.

3. Euphoria (HBO)

Topics: Addiction, depression, bipolar disorder
Why it’s accurate: While stylized, Euphoria captures the chaos and confusion of mental illness, especially in teens. Zendaya’s portrayal of Rue has been praised for its emotional depth and honesty.

4. Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

Topics: Panic attacks, therapy stigma
Why it’s accurate: Beneath its wholesome humor, Ted Lasso dives into anxiety and emotional repression. The series treats therapy as essential, not optional — a huge step forward for male mental health representation.

5. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (The CW)

Topics: Borderline personality disorder, identity issues
Why it’s accurate: A musical comedy that tackles serious issues with care. The lead character is eventually diagnosed with BPD, and the show addresses therapy, medication, and relapse without shame.

6. Atypical (Netflix)

Topics: Autism spectrum, social anxiety
Why it’s accurate: Follows a teen on the spectrum as he navigates school, relationships, and independence. The show evolved over seasons with better input from the autism community, making it more respectful and accurate.

7. Mr. Robot (USA Network)

Topics: Dissociative identity disorder (DID), depression
Why it’s accurate: Offers a complex, layered view of mental health in the tech world. The show avoids cheap shock value and focuses instead on the daily reality and coping mechanisms of its protagonist.

8. Please Like Me (Hulu)

Topics: Depression, bipolar disorder, suicide
Why it’s accurate: A raw, humorous, and deeply human portrayal of young adults coping with mental health — without melodrama or moralizing. It shows how love and humor coexist with pain.

🎥 What These Shows Get Right

• They consult mental health experts and real stories

• They show progress and setbacks, not miracle cures

• Therapy and medication are portrayed realistically, not negatively

• Mental illness isn’t the only trait — characters are multidimensional

Final Thoughts

Accurate mental health portrayals on TV don’t just entertain — they educate, validate, and inspire. These shows prove that when creators treat mental health with care and nuance, it can lead to powerful, lasting impact.