Films and series that tackle mental health

Another Apple TV entry on this list is 'Severance' which stars Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Patricia Arquette, Dichen Lachman, John Turturro, and Zach Cherry. The sci-fi psychological thriller points out a lot of modern-day work dilemmas that lead to the deterioration of one's mental health. Every corporate slave will relate to this series and, in a hopeful sense, get slapped in the face with the realities of work and life in general.

Director Cary Joji Fukunaga and writer Patrick Somerville's 'Maniac' deserves a spot on this list as it acts like a warm embrace to everyone who needs it. The limited series revolves around the lives of Owen Milgrim (Jonah Hill) and Annie Landsberg (Emma Stone) who participate in a pharmaceutical trial that promises to heal them emotionally. Despite its overall absurdity, the series' raw and realistic representation of how humans live with mental illness, it is embedded with genuine compassion and sensitivity.

'Modern Love' takes after The New York Times's weekly column of the same name which presents different stories about love and explores the idea that love comes in multitudes of forms. The first season's third episode, 'Take Me As I Am, Whoever I Am' doesn't beat around the bush and downright presents the complexities of having bipolar disorder. Although bipolar manifests differently in every person that has it, the portrayal of the condition in this episode is tackled pretty well.

We know 'BoJack Horseman' has been around since 2014 but the show still hits. Basically, the animated series follows the life of washed-up 1990s sitcom star BoJack who is seeking ways to stay relevant in the modern world. Don't be fooled by its animated execution because this series gets dark and will, from time to time, put you in emotional turmoil. We suggest taking breaks in between seasons when you decide to binge it.

If you're up for an emotional adventure under eight episodes, Netflix's 'Midnight Gospel' is the show to watch. This trippy animated series will have you explore the existential questions about life, death, and everything in between as it's based on real interviews from Duncan Trussell's podcast 'Duncan Trussell Family Hour.'

We won't ever get tired of recommending Phoebe Waller-Bridge's 'Fleabag' as it represents people who use humor to mask and deal with daily encounters. Although season two was crisp, season one is so criminally underrated. In a nutshell, it's about a woman who's trying to cope with tragedy while, at the same time, rejecting help from any other human. Sounds familiar.

Moving on to the realm of motion pictures, director James Mangold's 'Girl, Interrupted' starring Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie, Brittany Murphy, Elisabeth Moss, and Clea DuVall is also one of the classic gems you shouldn't miss. It follows the true story of Susanna Kaysen who got admitted to a mental institution for troubled young women. There she meets new friends who are also dealing with their own battles.

We don't think this list will ever be complete without the addition of Disney's 'Inside Out.' The film is a masterpiece that every growing kid or even adult should watch. It introduces kids to the idea that there is a full spectrum of human emotions and that feeling each of them, at once or all at the same time, is valid and human of them to do so.

We're also adding to the list the criminally underrated film 'It's Kind of a Funny Story.' As a teenager, Craig Gilner (Keir Gilchrist) is unsure of what's wrong with him so he decides to check himself into a mental health clinic. What we love about this film is that it doesn't belittle a person's reason for feeling quite a certain way. It normalizes the idea that every human is different in terms of how they deal with and approach things as well as how they respond to every course of action and every force of nature.

Another Disney entry in this list you shouldn't miss is 'Soul.' The film pounces on a few themes but its human portrayal of mental health issues such as anxiety and depression is one thing to love about it. Another thing that truly made this film worth the watch is how it comforts us, humans, with the idea that we are enough as is.

One of the most controversial takes on the life of the late Princess Diana, 'Spencer,' directed by Pablo Larrain shifts the narrative and shows the former Princess in her most uncomfortable state. It also portrays her struggle with having an eating disorder caused by the emotional turmoil of the royal family.

Delving into the world of Filipino films, director Jerrold Tarrog's 'Bliss' starring Iza Calzado is deserving of a spot in this list. It's a psychological thriller film that shows the horrific effects of overlooking the most subtle symptoms of poor mental health.

'My Letters to Happy' starring Glaiza de Castro and TJ Trinidad is also one of the realest portrayals of what it looks like to be in a relationship with someone that's battling a mental illness. Although it starts off with a romantic theme, the film evolves into a journey of discovering one's self. It's raw, real, and imperfect just like it is in real life.