5 movies about mental illness

Watching a film can be a wonderful source of escapism as it provides you with an insight into another world and encourages you to broaden your horizon by seeing things from a different point of view. The director Ingmar Bergman stated, "Film as dream, film as music. No art passes our conscience in the way film does, and goes directly to our feelings, deep down into the dark rooms of our souls.”

Films can be an enlightening catharsis when you are suffering from depression or any mental illness, they can make you feel less alone or misunderstood during difficult times.

That’s why, for the European Depression Day, we have selected five films which we believe poignantly encapsulate some aspect of mental illness. Whether you watch these films to feel less isolate, or you watch them to understand what a loved one is going through, we hope that they move you in some way.

When a Monster Calls 

This movie was directed by J.A. Bayona and released in 2016. It follows the mental anguish that a young teen feels as he watches his mother battling with illness. You can’t help but get swept up in this emotional story as the watchers witness the different stages of acceptance and grief when a loved one is unwell.

There is an added level of the fantastical to this film as the teenager is helped through his journey by a tree monster that visits him at night time. As unbelievable as that scenario sounds, this movie is anything but silly. Beautiful, profound and heartwarming; this is a film that you won’t be able to forget.

Anomalisa

Although this is an animated film, don’t let this fool you into thinking it isn’t a film that doesn’t deal with deep themes. Released in 2015, Anomalisa is one day in the life of a deeply depressed, but highly successful, man. The movie captures the grey and melancholy feeling that many people suffering from depression feel and the directors did this in a unique and riveting way; by giving all the characters the same monotone voice. We see this man listlessly trudge through his life until...something amazing happens.

The Perks of being a Wallflower 

This movie was originally a book and tells the story of a young, introverted and anxious boy as he goes through high school. The watcher can relate to the different issues that Charlie encounters as he battles through his anxiety and depression as well as trying to succeed in school. The unusual friendships that he makes and the philosophical revelations that ensue make this a film for any age, even if it is based in an adolescent context.

Little Miss Sunshine

This is probably the most uplifting film on our list and it contains genuine, laugh-out-loud moments. Released over 12 years ago, this movie is a quirky insight into family dynamics. We follow a family, crammed into a van as they drive across America to enter their daughter into a beauty pageant. Every character in this is highly realistic and relatable as they each have their own strong personality and issues to deal with. It is loosely based on the script writers own family which is obvious from its own authenticity.

Girl Interrupted 

This is a true story based on a writer’s experience living in a psychiatric hospital in the 1960s. The watchers meet a plethora of interesting characters who are each suffering from their own individual mental health problems. This provides an insight into life in an institution when mental health issues were a lot more taboo than they are today. An eye-opening movie, made even more profound from that fact is a true story.

So what are your favourite films to watch, either to cheer you up or move you to tears? Share below in the comments.