The theme of teen depression is generally played up in high-octane dramas in entertainment. In 2017, “13 Reasons Why” was caught in rapid controversy for its inclusion of a graphic suicide scene, which was eventually removed by Netflix. Conversely, in Hulu’s true crime series “The Girl From Plainville,” the suicide scene is off-camera. Then there’s Ecstasy, HBO’s Emmy-winning and millennial target that charts the addictive disease of Zendaya Street, peppered with police chases, drug lords, and toxic teen love triangles.
But depression isn’t always — or even most of the time — something that accompanies the end of the season. It’s boring, heavy. It is as heavy as a rock chained to the ankle. In the United States, rates of teen depression have risen to epidemic proportions.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13% of teens reported experiencing a major depressive episode in 2019, an increase of 60% from 2007. And in 2018, suicide rates for people aged 10-24 also jumped by 60%. . Suicide is a leading cause of death among young adults between the ages of 10 and 19.
Given this disastrous trend and in May, which is being called Mental Health Awareness Month, Hollywood should consider normalizing its portrayal of mental illness, focusing (at least some) stories on the millions of teens dealing with clinical depression.
“Our recent research on film and previous work on television indicates that very few teens are ever portrayed with a mental health condition in the popular media,” says Stacey L. Smith, founder of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative at the University of Southern California.
“Although there have been some examples of shows that portray adolescent mental health problems, the reality is that underrepresentation of mental health conditions in this age group means that teens rarely see stories that show them characters that reflect the experiences they have had. This is even more true. on the situation of adolescents from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, who identify as LGBTI or with disabilities.”
To this end, the Mental Health Storytelling Coalition, an organization founded in 2021 that includes the MTV Entertainment group, the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, and companies such as Amazon Studios, has launched The Mental Health Media Guide, a “resource for entertainment professionals to support more realistic, accurate, and safe mental health storytelling.” .
Mona De, a Los Angeles-based internal medicine specialist who treats teens with major depressive disorder, stresses that producers and writers could also benefit from doing “more research.”
More effort and more [time spent] When talking to experts, there are ways to make a really compelling and interesting story that involves malignant brain disease — as opposed to something horrific, like a psychotic break,” she says.
There are, of course, some subtle images of teen depression in films and television. Showtime’s Shameless, HBO’s In Treatment, and The Edge of Seventeen by Kelly Freemon Craig showcased mentally ill teen characters in ways that are largely believable.
In “The Girl From Plainville,” Elle Fanning’s ability to portray the inner psychosis of Michelle Carter, a teen sentenced to manslaughter for manslaughter in a high-profile 2015 text message suicide case, is astounding. The short scene in which Michelle takes antidepressants is rarely seen on TV. Content related to clinical depression includes more boys, which is key as a 2019 study showed that they die by suicide at a higher rate than girls.
Risa Sugarman, a Connecticut-based social worker and mental health blogger, credits the Netflix series “Heartstopper” for its compelling, understated portrayal of a male teenager suffering from a “real level of clinical depression.”
In Plainville, the quiet desperation of Conrad (performed by Colton Ryan), a boy who committed suicide, is also exposed. The performance is great, because it’s very restrained, and that’s what makes it real. To maintain the authenticity of both Conrad and Michelle, co-models Patrick McManus and Liz Hannah have partnered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the National Eating Disorder Assn.
“Conrad was smart, talented, and insightful, and he cared very much about his family and friends,” McManus and Hannah say. “Ensuring that all of our characters are portrayed with empathy and realism was our top priority. We know this is a story that will address audiences dealing with their mental health issues or those of their loved ones.”
“The tides are starting to turn now, with more creators whose shows or movies are about mental health or suicide themes, pre-apply for guidance during development, and want to make sure they portray stories in ways that are reliable, authentic, and safe,” says Brett Wayne, Director of Writing and Entertainment Communication at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Wayne, who advises on USA Network’s Plainville and The Sinner, notes that when creating content about clinical depression, “micro-choices” can make a big difference.
“In my experience, creators have good intentions. It’s just about educating people about what to avoid and how to balance the tougher aspects of their story. Just as there is the potential for exposition to be harmful at times, there is a high potential for stories to encourage seeking help, and to demonstrate how Characters have to demonstrate healthy coping strategies, manage their mental health, and have imperative and real conversations. Entertainment reflects our culture, and can also help lead.”
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