How TV Can Help Us Navigate Mental Health
It’s always important to look after your mental health, and thankfully, conversations around the subject have become far more open and less taboo. Given art’s powerful role as a form of expression, television has increasingly taken on the challenge of portraying mental health with depth and compassion. I spoke with LJ Jones, a therapist and author with The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, about why these depictions are becoming more prevalent and why so many of us see ourselves reflected in them.
Why Gen Z wants realistic representation
LJ explains that the appetite for authentic portrayals of mental health, particularly among Gen Z, comes from their heightened awareness and refusal to accept surface-level storytelling. “Young people today have grown up surrounded by mental health language,” she says. “They’re navigating anxiety, identity and social pressures in a highly visible, online world, so they want stories that feel raw, honest and emotionally authentic.”
For many, these shows provide not just recognition but comfort. “Some young viewers don’t have a trusted adult to talk to,” she adds, “so seeing their experiences mirrored on screen can offer a sense of validation and even education.”
Relatable shows that spark conversation
Series such as Sex Education and Normal People have struck a particular chord because they approach emotional experiences with nuance and empathy rather than sensationalism. According to LJ, “When viewers see characters grappling with feelings similar to their own, it naturally prompts self-reflection and dialogue. For families or couples, these shared viewing experiences can open up honest conversations about vulnerability, relationships and wellbeing.”
When viewers see characters grappling with feelings similar to their own, it naturally prompts self-reflection and dialogue.
LJ Jones
The comfort of optimistic storytelling
Of course, not all portrayals aim to challenge or unsettle. Some seek to soothe. Shows like Ted Lasso, which blend humour and hope with emotional awareness, have become hugely popular in recent years. LJ believes this reflects the climate of the times. “In moments of collective stress or uncertainty, people are drawn to stories that feel safe and optimistic,” she notes. “Comfort viewing offers emotional containment. It helps regulate the nervous system when the real world feels overwhelming.”
The risks of raw storytelling
Not every depiction, however, is without risk. Series such as Euphoria have been praised for their honesty but criticised for their intensity. LJ acknowledges the fine line these dramas walk. “Graphic portrayals can raise awareness,” she explains, “but they must be handled with great care. Without recovery narratives or guidance towards support, they risk becoming misleading or even triggering for vulnerable viewers.” For her, the most responsible storytelling acknowledges pain while also offering hope, empathy and a path towards healing.
Graphic portrayals can raise awareness but they must be handled with great care.
LJ Jones
Moving beyond stereotypes
As a therapist, LJ admits to feeling frustrated when mental health is oversimplified on screen. “Too often, conditions are reduced to clichés or used as plot devices,” she says. “Stories that imply quick fixes or linear recovery are unrealistic and can create shame or false expectations. Mental health is complex and deeply individual. It can’t be condensed into a single episode arc.”
Portraying pathways to healing
Looking ahead, LJ would like to see television continue to evolve in this space. “We need more focus on achievable strategies, things that reflect how real people maintain balance, develop emotional safety and find connection,” she says.
Positive depictions don’t mean avoiding struggle. They mean showing real hope, agency and tangible steps towards recovery
LJ Jones
Portraying tools such as mindfulness, boundary-setting and relational healing can, in her view, be both powerful and practical. “As our lives become more digital and isolated, television and film have a vital role in modelling empathy and breaking stigma. Positive depictions don’t mean avoiding struggle. They mean showing real hope, agency and tangible steps towards recovery.”
