On Romanticizing Mental Illness
What Netflix has gotten right and wrong about mental illness
Portraying mental illness in books, movies and television shows is tricky — a path that must be approached with caution. So often is mental illness romanticized that it’s as if it has become a fashion accessory to so many people who self-diagnose or have no understanding of what mental illness actually is. There are people who view mental illness as a badge of honor, something that will make a person unique or gives them the platform to create an identity. Trivializing or carelessly self-diagnosing makes society not take people with disorders seriously. “The prejudice and discrimination of mental illness is as disabling as the illness itself. It undermines people attaining their personal goals and dissuades them from pursuing effective treatments,” says psychological scientist Patrick W. Corrigan in an article from the Association for Psychological Science. Those who are professionally diagnosed could feel that they are a joke or need to fix themselves instead of seeking help.
Media portrayals often have been over exaggerated, incorrect, negative and glorifying; individuals are portrayed as dangerous and volatile or as the cool, rebellious tortured artist. As of late, the media industry is aiming for accuracy to raise awareness and serve as a bridge between those who are experiencing a mental illness and those who stigmatize them.
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It was possible that the new Netflix movie, To the Bone, might romanticize eating disorders depending on how the lead character, Ellen, was portrayed. She’s a girl with an, “I hate the world” attitude and an artist who creates artwork based on her eating disorder — anorexia. As mentioned in the film, Tumblr and the internet as a whole are a breeding ground for pro-ana content (the promotion of eating disorders). Young girls and boys are inspired by the beautiful and emaciated — the negative effects are not depicted. With anorexia comes fatigue, depression, hair loss, the growth of soft peach fuzz to keep the body warm due to lack of fat, dizziness and low blood pressure. The symptoms of bulimia include sore throat, cavities, fatigue, depression and shame from consuming food. Less commonly portrayed is EDNOS (Eating Disorder Otherwise Not Specified). An obsession with food and the same symptoms as anorexia and bulimia may appear. Ellen has a full head of healthy hair and does not look particularly fatigued and malnourished until the end of the movie. The portrayal of a beautiful girl without visible side effects other than the once depicted protruding rib cage and hip bones could serve as inspiration for people to lose more weight. Pro-ana content encourages visible bones. Ellen is obsessed with measuring her upper arm with her hand until she is able to touch her fingers together around it.
The movie did many things right. By showing her emaciated body only twice, and wearing baggy clothing, it gave less opportunity to glorify her illness. In the end of the film, Ellen finally sees herself as everyone else does — emaciated and fragile: a skeleton. She experiences enlightenment and chooses to fight to overcome her anorexia. This was an extremely smart depiction as it could serve to inspire those experiencing an eating disorder to change their perceptions of themselves and help them reach a healthy weight and healthy mind.
Unlike 13 Reasons Why (another Netflix original), To The Bone does not romanticize — it gives an honest depiction of anorexia and provides inspiration to become healthier. In the end, Ellen willingly accepts professional help. Hannah does not. While 13 Reasons Why showed how devastating suicide is and how damaging bullying is, Hannah did not reach out for help. Had the series ended with her actually telling her parents or an adult that she is suicidal — instead of hinting it — suicide would not look like a way to escape or to get vengeance, a problem in and of itself. Revenge, instead of healing, will not better a person’s state of mind.
With time, depictions of mental illness will continue to be as accurate as possible and serve as hope for those experiencing anorexia, depression, anxiety or another mental illness. Education and ceasing to romanticize will help reduce the stigma that still prevails.
Asiya Haouchine is a UConn alumna with a special interest in human rights, literature, and food. Her ultimate goal is to be an editor for a food or literary magazine. You can follow her on Twitter.
