I have come to acknowledge and accept my mental illness for some time now. For the most part I have been able to manage my condition by strengthening my social networks, practising mindfulness, using psychotherapy and sticking to a protocol of medication. However, my affliction has had a major impact on my life and will continue to do so until the day I die.

So naturally I have a mixed relationship towards depictions of psychopathology in movies. Films seem to portray it in one of three ways. Firsrly, a good deal of realism might be used in an attempt to honestly and accurately explore mental health. Secondly, the actions and words of characters with mental health issues are heightened for dramatic purposes but are not completely inaccurate. Finally, there are movies that lamentably depict grossly inaccurate portroyals of mental illness and disorders in order to attempt to shock the audience.

Unfortunately, there is still a good deal of stigma attached to mental illness, which has personally caused myself and millions of other sufferers unnecessary pain and additional hardship. But that does not mean I am necessarily overly sensitive about mental health issues being used for dramatic purposes on screen.

The problem is when dramatised or exploitative on-screen representations completely saturate the media. There needs to be a parallel body of films that provide important and accurate insights into psychopathology and/or include in-depth studies of characters with mental health issues that do not depict them as one dimensional "crazy people". Without these alternative films, popular culture runs the risk of perpetuating negative stereotypes and stigma.

Anyway, time for me to get off my soap box. I was compelled to create a list of films that have prominent characters with mental health issues or engages the topic as a central theme. It does not have to be a positive portrayal, however, I might exclude some movies that use psychopathy as a thinly veiled motivation for murder. Otherwise, the list would be flooded with a whole bunch of slashers and other types of bad horror movies.

Can anyone help me out and suggest other movies I could add?

Feel free to add any constructive comments on the topic you would like to make as well