hey tribe! 

hope you had a greaaaat weekend!!

it is the beginning of mental health awareness month.

we do talk a lot about how mental health is an important part of living aastey. it is at the core of our philosophy, and we take it very seriously. we try to talk about it in real terms, without any pretence. but one medium that is built on pretension and exaggeration is the world of movies and tv shows and the portrayal of mental health suffers a lot.

so, let’s talk about movies and tv shows that did do justice in representing mental health accurately:

BoJack horseman

the beloved anime series is celebrated for its representation of mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Bojack is a washed-up 90s TV star dealing with a crisis in his personal and professional life. while it is one of the most well-deserved shows for their hard-hitting and raw portrayal of mental health issues, it is advisable that you do not go on a binge-watch because there are several scenes that could be triggering.

best quote- “When you look at someone through rose-coloured glasses, all the red flags just look like flags.”

fleabag

 we have mentioned fleabag before as one of the most gifted tv shows when it comes to showing vulnerability as a woman. as it turns out, it is also one of the best shows to portray mental health issues and what it feels like to live with such issues every day of your life. it is an epic tale of guilt, grief and moving on that cannot be missed when mental health is the subject of discussion.

best quote- “I just want to cry. All the time.”

this is us

this is us is one of the most renowned emotional dramas, taking us through the trials and tribulations of the Pearson family. it has been appreciated for its portrayal of anxiety and panic attacks. so, take a roller coaster ride into the world of the Pearsons and how they cope with, well, life. 

best quote- “the hardest part…about seeing someone you love in pain is not being able to do anything about it, except try not to make it worse.”

jessica jones

is it surprising for an action tv show to be in a list that celebrates representation of mental health? yes, it is. it is also one of the very few tv shows that portrays a woman as the superhero. but also, this woman is not an intergalactic, inter dimensional force like the super girl or captain marvel but a normal human-turned-mutant who is also a private detective. the show has been praised for its correct representation of someone going through post traumatic stress disorder after being violated and assaulted.

please be advised that some scenes might be a trigger for survivors of abuse.  

best quote- “feel how you feel. you have noting to forgive yourself for.”

dear zindagi

now as we all know, Bollywood is not the finest when it comes to talking about mental health. there is still a great deal of reluctance when it comes to mental health. but the industry is trying to change its habits. one movie that did stand out in portraying mental health issues and how our childhood shapes us is the Alia Bhatt and Shah Rukh Khan starrer Dear Zindagi. A must watch, especially because of the way it normalises therapy and does not attach any stigma to it.

best quote- “if we look for so many options just to buy a chair, then shouldn’t we look at options…when choosing a life partner?”

here were our favourite picks for movies that are true to the struggles and realities of going through mental health issues. tell us if we missed something and which one is your favourite. tag us @liveaastey.