Mental Illness on T.V.

 More and more television shows are including mental illness in their plotlines. From bipolar disorder in ‘Homeland’ to autism in ‘Parenthood,’ mental illness is becoming more prevalent on the small screen. 

Critics have said that 'Homeland' effectively portrays the lead character, Carrie Mathison's, struggle with bipolar disorder. She receives electric-compulsive therapy (ECT) at the end of season one. ECT has been proven as an effective treatment for bipolar disorder when other forms of treatment have failed. 

Carrie Mathison (played by Claire Danes in 'Homeland') receives ECT.

On ABC's 'Parenthood,' one of the lead characters, eight-year-old (at the start of the show) Max was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. 

One specific group supports the depiction of the boy's character. That's the Autism Society of Ohio. According to an article on the society's website, many members of the society view the show: "Ever since the first episode of Parenthood, it's been: 'Hey, did you see it this past week?' " said Cherry Hill resident Debbie Schmidt, whose son Jordan has the syndrome. "It's being watched by many of us."

Max Burkholder plays Max Braverman, an autistic child in 'Parenthood.'

Disability Scoop also praised the portrayal of an autistic child on the show. The show's storyline, in many episodes, revolves around the difficulty of the family accepting Max's diagnosis in the first season and how it affects their lives moving forward. 

Max Burkholder, the actor  who plays the ausistic told Disability Scoop in a Q & A : 

"Every couple of episodes I get together with an Asperger’s doctor, the director and the executive producer and we talk about what Max might do in the given situations in the script. I get new ideas about what to do during the scenes — how he would act, what he would say — because a lot of ad libbing happens on the show. As I do more and more, I start to understand more about what Max might be feeling."

As more television shows address mental illness, they should follow the leads of these shows to display the mental illnesses effectively and truthfully. 

By Emily Brown