Yet a new study reveals that one area where little has changed for mental health is popular movies.
Another 34% of the movies in the sample showcased only a single character with a mental health condition.
This means that more than three-quarters of 2022s top movies had little to no depictions of mental health.
The most commonly depicted mental health conditions were addiction, mood disorders, and anxiety/PTSD.
Only 7 LGBT-identified characters were shown with a mental health condition.
Finally, 15 characters with a mental health condition were also depicted with a disability.
The study also examined how characters with mental health conditions were portrayed in the unfolding plot.
Nearly 80% of characters with mental health conditions experienced some form of disparagement on screen.
The negative context surrounding mental health portrayals paints a problematic picture for audiences.
There is a huge opportunity, especially given our current climate, to be better and to be relatable.
The report also revealed that characters with mental health conditions were linked to violence.
Films continue to perpetuate and convey to viewers a portrait of mental health as enmeshed with violence.
Violence was also a hallmark of how characters with mental health conditions died in popular films .
Of those characters that perished, 54.5% died by violent means.
On screen, suicide was the cause of death for 21.2% of characters with a mental health condition.
Film appears to have little value for the lives of characters with mental health conditions, said Dr. Smith.
In addition, the study explored how often help-seeking behaviors occurred in connection to mental health portrayals.
There has been no significant improvement in the depiction of therapy since 2016.
Though low, this figure has not changed since 2019.
One solution to increase the portrayal of mental health is for creatives to use the Mental Health Media Guide.
