Movies on Depression

Thankfully, more and more people are waking up to acknowledge that depression is, in fact, a disease. It is the most common mental health condition today and hundreds of millions of people all over the world suffer from it.

In the past, depression wasn’t recognized as a legitimate health concern. Those who happened to suffer from the blues were asked to 'toughen up', and it was generally believed that depression was a passing phase. Mental health diseases were a taboo subject, and there hung an oppressive silence around them.

We, as a society, have come a long way since then. Any person dealing with grief and sustained periods of sadness can go online today and find relevant, helpful resources. Mental health has been made a hot topic of discussion in our times and the media and fine arts have played a huge role in sensitizing the public towards a more educated opinion on the subject.

Filmmakers also played a dominant role to serve this end by depicting grief-stricken individuals in their narratives.

Depression can be severely isolating and it always helps to find someone to relate to when you are sad and lonely – fictional or otherwise.

List of Movies Dealing with Depression

1. Garden State

– The protagonist of this movie is depressed because he believes that he was responsible for the accident that eventually caused his mother’s death. It is a film about loss, grief, and emotional numbness. If there was ever a movie that showcased depression right, it is Garden State.

2. Girl, Interrupted

– Girl, Interrupted is based on author Susanna Kaysen’s autobiographical novel of the same name. It chronicles the author’s stay in a mental health facility where she was diagnosed with depression and BPD. Set in the 60s, this movie offers a view into how mental health conditions were looked down upon by society back in the day.

3. Sylvia

– Sylvia, based on author Sylvia Plath’s life, is a movie that details the author’s tumultuous life and nervous breakdown that led to her suicide. It is a careful exploration of what goes on in a depressed person’s mind and what motivates them towards self-harm.

4. The Hours

– Based on Michael Cunningham’s novel of the same name, The Hours is a cinematic tour de force dealing with the subject of depression. Spanning three generations, it revolves around the lives of three female protagonists. Two women in different eras find solace in the novel “Mrs. Dalloway,” and Virginia Woolf herself deals with her own delicate mental state while penning the novel.

5. Anomalisa

– Depression can be difficult to diagnose if one doesn’t seek out help by themselves. Appearances can be deceiving in such cases and Anomalisa tries to make the audience understand just that. The lead character in the movie is a professional motivational speaker who barely motivates himself to enjoy life.

Watching movies that depict characters suffering from an identical ailment can be reaffirming, but it isn’t enough to make you better.

Phoenix Medical Centre treats depression as seriously as any other disease. Our doctors are always ready to lend their ear and suggest ways in which you can keep your depression at bay. So don’t hesitate to get the necessary medical assistance required for treating depression.

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