Mental Health in TV Series: From 13 Reasons Why to Euphoria

The article traces the evolution of mental health representation in television series over the past decade, identifying 2017's "13 Reasons Why" as a watershed moment. Based on Jay Asher's novel, the Netflix series tackled suicide, depression, and bullying among teens, sparking widespread conversation. Earlier shows like "Black Mirror" (2011) and "Shameless" (2011) had already addressed collective anxieties and bipolar disorder, respectively. The Norwegian series "Skam" (2015) later explored borderline personality disorder in its Italian adaptation. The animated "BoJack Horseman" (2014) depicted depression and addiction in a Hollywood setting. Post-2017 landmarks include "Euphoria" (2019) focusing on self-harm and OCD, Italian series "Mental" (2020) about friendship among mentally ill youths, "Normal People" (2020) portraying social anxiety and depression, "Stranger Things" season 4 (2022) featuring a character's acute depression, and Italian series "Tutto chiede salvezza" (2022) set in a psychiatric ward. The article also notes shows addressing neurodevelopmental disorders like autism: "Atypical" (2017), "The Good Doctor" (2017), and "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" (2022).