Films are not always about portraying real life in a realistic way. There are documentaries and gritty dramas that seek to show the truth but where simple entertainment is concerned, sometimes films exaggerate the difficulties faced by people with mental illnesses both in terms of the extent of the diability and in terms of the effect on their lives. Most people with mental illness and their families get on with the day-to-day business of living in a very low-key way which although admirable, is not the stuff screenplays are made of. However, the ability to play the role of someone with a mental illness allows talented actors and actresses to win awards. Films do not always set out the tell the truth about all aspects of the lives of those with mental illnesses. The spectrum of mental illnesses is pretty broad and some of mental illnesses have never featured in films. Some never will. The more outlandish the behaviour sometimes, the more likely the disorder is to be the focus of a film. And some disorders, once they have been the subject of a film, enter into public consciousness and bring vital awareness to a section of society that needs assistance. Having said that, some disorders feature once in a film and then never again. Out of sight, out of mind. But not for the people for whom living with a mental illness is a daily reality.
Health