A List of 70 Movies With Mental Illness

Sometimes its hard to talk about stuff, especially if we are trying to share what we are experiencing.

Movies can be a powerful tool for portraying and exploring mental health struggles, helping others in understanding and empathy towards what we are struggling with.

By depicting characters with mental health challenges in a realistic and sensitive manner, movies can provide insight into the experiences, emotions, and daily struggles faced by individuals with mental health struggles. Viewers can gain a deeper understanding of the complexity of these conditions and the impact they have on a person's life.

Additionally, movies are great at starting those hard conversations!

When someone see characters navigating their mental health journeys on screen, it can encourage discussions about mental health and promote acceptance and support for those who are dealing with similar challenges in real life. By humanizing the experiences of individuals with mental illness, movies have the potential to increase empathy, understanding, and compassion in society as a whole.

Ultimately, movies have the ability to educate, inspire, and create a sense of solidarity among viewers, offering a unique perspective on the realities of living with mental health struggles. By showcasing the struggles, triumphs, and resilience of individuals facing these issues, movies can help bridge the gap between those who are living with mental health conditions and those who may not fully comprehend the extent of their experiences.

Movies With Mental Illness

Anxiety

• What About Bob? - Anxiety

• Iron Man 3 - PTSD, Anxiety, Panic Attacks

Bipolar Disorder

• Silver Linings Playbook - Bipolar Disorder and Depression

• Infinitely Bipolar Bear - Bipolar

Depression

• It’s Kind of a Funny Story - Suicide and Depression

• The Grinch That Stole Christmas - Depression

• Silver Linings Playbook - Bipolar Disorder and Depression

• Country Strong - Substance Abuse, Depression, Suicide

• The Christmas Carol - Depression, Anger, Family Dynamics

• Little Miss Sunshine - Depression, Suicide Ideation

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• The Aviator - OCD and Panic Attacks

• As Good As It Gets - OCD

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• The Perks of Being a Wallflower - PTSD

• Iron Man 3 - PTSD, Anxiety, Panic Attacks

Schizophrenia

• The Soloist - Schizophrenia

• A Beautiful Mind - Schizophrenia and Paranoia

Substance Use and Abuse

• Flight - Substance Abuse

• Safe Haven - Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence

• 28 Days - Substance Use and Overdose

• Blue Jasmine - Substance Use, Mental Illness, Suicide, Domestic Violence

• Country Strong - Substance Abuse, Depression, Suicide

• Begin Again - Substance Abuse and Depression

• Burnt - Substance Use and Recovery

• National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation - Substance Use, Anger, Family Stress and Dementia

• Hancock - Substance Use, Quality of Life, Interpersonal Skills, Incarceration, Depression

• A Walk in The Woods - Substance Use, Recovery and Legal Concerns

• The Gambler - Gambling

• St. Vincent - Gambling, Substance Use, and Alzheimer’s Disease

• To Write Love on Her Arms - Substance Abuse, Trauma, Self-Harm

• The Blind Side - Homelessness, Substance Use, Child Abuse/Neglect, Poverty

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Self-Harm

• To Write Love on Her Arms - Substance Abuse, Trauma, Self-Harm

Gambling Addiction

• Confessions of a Shopaholic - Shopping Addiction

• Rounders - Gambling and Legal

• The Gambler - Gambling

• St. Vincent - Gambling, Substance Use, and Alzheimer’s Disease

Grief and Loss

• Big Hero 6 - Grief and Loss

• I’ll See You in My Dreams - Ageing, Grief and Loss, and Finding Purpose in Life

• Finding Dory - Short-term Memory Loss, ABI/TBI, and other Mental and Physical Challenges

• The Fundamentals of Caring - Grief and Loss and Muscular Dystrophy

• The Christmas Carol - Depression, Anger, Family Dynamics

Dementia/Alzheimer’s

• Robot & Frank - Dementia and Alzheimer’s

• Nebraska - Substance Use and Dementia

• Still Alice - Alzheimer’s Disease, Healthy Relationships

• St. Vincent - Gambling, Substance Use, and Alzheimer’s Disease

Anger Management

• The Avengers - Anger Management

• Angry Birds - Anger

• The Grinch That Stole Christmas - Depression, Anger, Family Stress, and Dementia

Social Anxiety

• The King’s Speech - Social Anxiety and Stuttering

• The Perks of Being a Wallflower - PTSD

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Family Dynamics

• Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas - Cultural Awareness, Family Acceptance, Bullying

• The Blind Side - Homelessness, Substance Use, Child Abuse/Neglect, Poverty

• Lars and The Real Girl - Delusional Disorder and Community and Family Support

• The Christmas Carol - Depression, Anger, Family Dynamics

Trauma

• In Her Shoes - Substance Abuse, Dyslexia, and Trauma

• Lars and The Real Girl - Delusional Disorder and Community and Family Support

• To Write Love on Her Arms - Substance Abuse, Trauma, Self-Harm

Cognitive Impairment

• 50 First Dates - ABI/TBI

• Finding Dory - Short-term Memory Loss, ABI/TBI

• Concussion - ABI/TBI

Addiction and Recovery

• The Fundamentals of Caring - Grief and Loss and Muscular Dystrophy

• Burnt - Substance Use and Recovery

Mood Disorders

• Trolls - Mood Disorder and Isolation

Self-Esteem and Identity

• Moana - Self-Esteem and Identity

Racial Inequality

• 13th - Racial Inequality

• Hidden Figures - Gender and Racial Equality

Healthy Relationships

• Catfish - Healthy Relationships, Online Chatting/Dating

Hoarding

• Clutter - Hoarding and Depression

Substance Abuse in Family

• Proof - Mental Illness in Family

Legal and Recovery Issues

• A Walk in The Woods - Substance Use, Recovery, and Legal Concerns

Mental Health in the Family

• Barefoot - Gambling, Mental Health in the Family

• The Blind Side - Homelessness, Substance Use, Child Abuse/Neglect, Poverty

Let me know if you have any more to add in the comments below!