Films on Men’s Mental Health

Talking about the not so blissful gifts that patriarchy has given to men, what tops the list is the taboo-zoning conversations around mental health. Men, in an effort to fit themselves in the patriarchal ideas, are required to project themselves as strong and powerful, and hence, talking about men’s mental health is not really a thing that is given the recognition it deserves. But gladly, there are a few films that acknowledge men’s mental health, and honestly, they are nailing it.

Here is the list of films that are themed on Men’s Mental Health

1. Karthik Calling Karthik

If we need to talk about the earliest Indian films that directly acknowledge men’s mental health, it surely will be Karthik Calling Karthik. The film represents the challenges of people with schizophrenia and further normalizes the idea of men having mental health and the kind of emotional support that should be provided to patients of such nature.

2. Good Will Hunting

The next in this list is ought to be Good Will Hunting. In the film, the protagonist, who has a really sharp mind, yet has some memories which are staying with him is made to have sessions with a therapist, against his sanitized will. Where the therapist tries to be the most helpful out of the small conversations they were having, yet the film shows that having a therapist is not really the sure-shot solution until and unless there comes a bond of trust. Also, it comments on how psychologists themselves can have their triggers while dealing with other person’s trauma.

3. A Death In Gunj

A directorial debut of Konkana Sen, ‘A Death in Gunj’ is a phenomenal film that represents how a man, with poor mental health, is often treated in society. Shuttu, as played by Vikrant Massey is a young adult, who often keeps quiet and remains unnoticed by the family members. He is subtly seen as stupid and or more than innocent by his family and is generally sidelined by everyone. The bubble of Shuttu’s anger breaks in the form that he happens to shoot himself in front of the whole family.

4. Beautiful Boy

Beautiful Boy, a film that should be credited for strongly taking up a lot of heartbreak which is leading to worsening of mental health and further leading to substance abuse. The story, which is a biographical drama representing the journey of Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet in the characters, David and Nic respectively is a treat to watch as it is so real and natural to see. The film strongly talks about how a person, who is having a supportive and well off family can also have poor mental health.

5. A beautiful Mind

There can’t be any film that can so beautifully take up and show what schizophrenia is. A person with schizophrenia can imagine things and people around him can hallucinate about things that are not existing in real-life and they perceive it all to be so real that they happen to not be able to differentiate between the real and the imagination. And the fact is that it is really painful to live a life with no clear distinction between what is real and imagined. This film will actually take you in the shoes of the survivor and makes you feel their pain.

6. Perks of Being a Wallflower

It is a film which is beautiful as it can be. Charlie, who is referred to as a wallflower, is a boy, who has his memories of child sexual abuse, and those memories are hitting him back every now and then, adding to his trauma. ‘Perks of Being a Wallflower is absolutely a treat to watch.

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