According to a new study: The USC Norman Lear Center, in collaboration with SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios, is highlighting the important role entertainment plays in shaping knowledge, public perceptions and behaviors about mental health. “Shifting Minds: Understanding the Development, Representation and Impact of Mental Health Storylines in Entertainment” highlights the power that accurate and nuanced portrayals of mental health have to reduce stigma and encourage help-seeking behavior.
The Norman Lear Centre explored the creative process around mental health storylines through interviews with writers and mental health experts, identified trends in mental health storylines through analysis of TV and film scripts, and explored the impact of 13 TV storylines that followed storytelling best practices or were advised by experts on how they impacted audiences.
The audience impact study included Basketball Wives (VH1), Bel-Air (Peacock), The Chi (Showtime), Clone High (MAX), Couples Therapy (Showtime), MTV’s Following: Bretman Rock (YouTube), Siesta Key (MTV), The Real World Homecoming: New Orleans (Paramount+), The Summer I Turned Pretty (Prime Video), Teen Mom: The Next Chapter (MTV), UnPrisoned (Hulu and Onyx Collective), Wolf Pack (Paramount+) and The Young and the Restless (CBS).
A new study finds that positive portrayals of mental health on television are on the rise.
The research team discovered:
The growing importance of responsible storytelling: Content creators and industry experts noted an industry-wide shift toward more inclusive and responsible portrayals of mental health, and interviews highlighted the importance of robust access to accurate, specific and culturally sensitive resources to support nuanced storytelling.
Expanding and improving mental health representation: The Norman Lear Center used its Script Database to analyze the frequency of mental health keywords in TV and film scripts in the period before and after the launch of the Mental Health Media Guide in 2021. The study found that mentions of mental health keywords have increased by 39% and derogatory terms have decreased by 15%, suggesting a shift towards more respectful and nuanced discussion of mental health.
Positive impact on viewers: Viewers who watched mental health storylines that followed best practices or were informed by experts and survivors were more knowledgeable about mental health topics, less stigmatized toward people receiving treatment, and more willing to seek help. Viewers were more likely to take a range of mental health actions, including therapy, support groups, reaching out to friends, and breathing exercises.
Character depth and relatability: Feelings of friendship toward TV characters helped reduce prejudice and increase willingness to help, even for complex characters with a mix of positive and negative traits.
Here are some research-based recommendations for entertainment creators:
- It showcases a diverse cast of characters who have faced mental health challenges and received support from their communities.
- It provides a realistic portrayal of the process of seeking mental health support and addressing common barriers.
- Normalize conversations about mental health and highlight systemic supports, such as workplace policies.
- We use resources such as mental health professionals and individuals with lived experience to tell authentic stories. Organizations such as the Mental Health Media Guide and the Leah Center’s Hollywood, Health & Society Program can provide a variety of services.
“This study proves what we as storytellers have always known: authentic, nuanced storytelling has the power to drive meaningful social change,” said Nina L. Diaz, president, content and chief creative officer, SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios and Paramount Media Networks. “The Mental Health Storytelling Initiative is empowering creators across all genres to elevate storylines that reflect the full range of mental health experiences, and the results are clear: they’re not just resonating with audiences, they’re shifting their perceptions, reducing stigma, and inspiring them to take steps to support the mental health of themselves and those around them.”
“This study highlights a dramatic shift in storytelling around mental health, away from stigmatizing language and towards more nuanced discussions of specific symptoms and treatment options.” “We found that when viewers see their favorite TV characters reaching out for help or supporting a friend in need, they are more likely to engage in those same behaviors themselves,” said Erica Rosenthal, research director at the USC Norman Lear Center.
It was installed at USC in 2021 with support from SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios. The Annenberg Inclusion Initiative’s Mental Health Storytelling Initiative leverages the power of storytelling to change the narrative around mental health. The initiative is driven by the Mental Health Storytelling Coalition, an unprecedented multi-sector partnership of more than 70 leading entertainment industry partners and mental health expert organizations. Based on new research and insights, the initiative will support a broader range of storytellers and topics, including portrayals of children’s mental health, digital creators, and global storytellers.
