Depression Movies: Can Films About Depression Help Me Understand My Experience?

If you are one of the 264 million people worldwide living with depression, you may find it difficult at times to explain your condition to your partner. Depression is a mental illness that not many people understand unless they live through it. While mental illness is often still stigmatized in the media, several films may offer useful portrayals of what it is like to live with depression. These movies about what depression is like can help you open a dialogue with your partner about your condition, and they may also be a cathartic experience for you.

Understanding depression

If you or your partner lives with depression, it is important to know that the condition can present differently in every person. There are several different types of depression, which have a unique set of symptoms. Generally, depression involves a persistent low mood and feeling of overwhelming sadness that can be very disruptive. Depression can interfere with your daily functioning, making it challenging to carry out everyday tasks.

Common symptoms of depression include:

• Sleep disturbance (either insomnia or sleeping too much)
• Feeling sad, guilty, or worthless.
• Finding no joy in activities you once liked
• Disrupted concentration
• Increased fatigue
• Extended depressive episodes of “low” moods

There are several specific diagnoses that classify as depressive disorders, according to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). They include major depression, persistent depressive disorder, perinatal depression, seasonal affective disorder, and depression with symptoms of psychosis. 

Help is available for depression

If you or your partner is experiencing depression, know that help is available. Common treatments for depression include therapy, medication, or a combination of the two. 

For some individuals living with depression, it can feel hard to leave the house and find the energy to make it to an in-person appointment. With online therapy, you can have your therapy sessions wherever you have internet, so you can do it from the comfort of home if you prefer. 

Plus, research has found online therapy to be effective at reducing the severity of depression symptoms. Whether you need help managing your depression, need advice on how to help your partner with depression, or are having difficulty explaining your depression symptoms to your partner, therapy can help.  

Social impact of movies

Good films can help you explore new ideas and situations you have never experienced before. When they are approached correctly, films on mental illness can broaden your understanding of living with depression, helping you empathize with your partner’s experiences. For people diagnosed with depression, you may be able to identify with films that depict characters and situations like yours in a unique way.

Stigmatizing mental iIlness: Movies that perpetuate the stigma

While several good films approach mental illness realistically, many do not. Part of the stigma that surrounds mental illness is perpetuated by how it is presented in the media. Characters with mental disorders are often portrayed as “different” or “weird,” existing on society’s fringes as they struggle with their condition. Horror movies and thrillers are infamous for making mental illness a plot device, using the stereotypical “mad” serial killer as the villain. Many horror films now considered classics – such as The Shining (1980), Psycho (1960), and Halloween (1978) – use mental disorders as the catalyst for the antagonist’s behavior. How you see yourself presented in the media may influence how you start to feel about yourself. These films can make those living with depression and other mental illnesses feel like outsiders, which means they may be less likely to seek help.

Movies about depression to consider

When trying to find a movie that best highlights the realities of living with depression, look for a film that portrays mental illness in a healthy, constructive way. Some movies may highlight experiences you or your partner encounter daily, such as depression symptoms, ongoing therapy, or medical intervention. Some stories also depict the effects of a person’s mental illness on their loved ones.

Depending on what you want to understand, many dramas and comedies approach depression in unique ways. While this isn’t a complete list, these movies are some possible movies about depression that you may find helpful:

It’s a Funny Story (2010) 

When depressed sixteen-year-old Craig checks himself into a psychiatric hospital, he is placed in the adult ward due to renovations. During his time at the hospital, Craig bonds with several patients, and he realizes the source of his depression is the expectations others have of him. This comedy depicts the characters as everyday people getting therapy in a hospital setting safely, which may be interesting to some viewers.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

Diagnosed with clinical depression and anxiety since childhood, Charlie’s freshman year of high school doesn’t start well. After his recent release from a psychiatric hospital, his shyness makes it hard for him to socialize with others. Two step-siblings, Sam and Patrick, befriend Charlie, who values their friendship. A romantic attraction between Sam and Charlie – despite their involvements with other people – leads to friction. When Sam and Patrick prepare for graduation and leave for college, Charlie’s depression worsens; through therapy, he realizes his condition stems from repressed memories of sexual abuse.

If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse of any kind, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for support and resources.

Inside Out (2015)

In an interesting take on the nature of memory and emotions, Inside Out is a Disney-Pixar film about how a young girl’s emotions work together – and against each other – to help her process a major life change. Inside Riley’s mind, her primary emotions – Joy, Anger, Fear, Sadness, and Disgust – influence her experiences as they turn into memories. Although Joy tries to keep Sadness away from the inner workings of Riley’s mind, Sadness starts turning all of Riley’s memories into sad ones. As Joy and Sadness struggle to restore balance, Anger, Disgust, and Fear are left in charge of processing Riley’s experiences, which leads her to act out. Inside Out treats the mind as a machine in which the emotions are all connected, and it offers an interesting visual representation of why we feel the way we feel.

Infinitely Polar Bear (2015)

Although this film isn’t specifically about depression, it is a film about how mental illness affects the family unit. Cameron Stuart’s family life comes crashing down when his undiagnosed bipolar disorder leads to psychosis. He is hospitalized and receives treatment, but his wife Maggie has trouble supporting their daughters alone without a higher degree. When Cam’s wife leaves for graduate school, he is left to care for their two daughters. His severe bipolar disorder symptoms impact his parenting abilities, so his daughters pitch in to help. Infinitely Polar Bear highlights several key elements of mental illness, including how your symptoms affect those around you and the importance of keeping up with treatment.

Good Will Hunting (1997)

Twenty-year-old Will Hunting is the night janitor at MIT with a secret: he is a genius. But Will’s past traumas in foster care torture him; he presents aggressive behaviors common in males with depression. After Will faces an assault charge, Lambeau negotiates a deal to work on mathematical theory as long as he sees a therapist. Will’s relationship with Dr. Sean Maguire is tense at first, but the two men eventually find common ground. Sean helps Will face his demons to form lasting, healthy relationships with those around him and take ownership of his gifts by putting them to good use. Good Will Hunting is a powerful film that addresses the impact of childhood trauma and the importance of seeking treatment.

The Hours (2002)

Virginia Woolf experienced a deep depression while writing her novel, Mrs. Dalloway, in Richmond, England, in 1923. In 1951, Laura Brown struggled to find happiness in her picture-perfect life as a wife and mother. As she reads Mrs. Dalloway, she contemplates a way to break free from the suffocation she feels in her daily life. Fifty years later, Clarissa Vaughan plans a party for her friend Richard, but she worries about his mental state as Richard’s depression worsens during his battle with AIDS. These three intertwining stories make up The Hours, touching on chronic depression, bipolar disorder, and other aspects. 

Takeaway

If you’re living with depression, it may feel difficult to fully explain your experiences to your partner. When handled appropriately, certain movies can offer useful perspectives on what it is like to live with depression. That said, some films also perpetuate the stigma surrounding mental illness, so it can be important to do some research before watching a film to help ensure that it will be a positive viewing experience. For help with depression, you can connect with an online therapist for support.