Mental illness can be a tricky topic to cover in the modern media: from films, books, music and video games, there are a lot of ways to go about it.

Some creators prefer a direct approach, showing the struggles they faced at their worst and the horrific suffering it brought. Others prefer to address it indirectly, taking the route of showing someone who is struggling in a way that speaks to the viewers who know those struggles personally.

There is no one right way to discuss and depict various ways people grapple with mental illness. However, there are wrong ways to do it, and it feels like those have only become more common in mainstream media over the years. Whether it is the fault of a genuine misunderstanding or that of blatant laziness, these depictions are often far more harmful than they are beneficial. Either way, these mistakes are often created by one common theme: plot overshadowing realistic representation.

As someone who has faced more than her own fair share of mental health problems, from intense mood swings to episodes of derealization, accurate representation of mental illness is a subject close to my heart. Failing to present viewers with a proper perspective on mental health can be frustrating, especially to those familiar with those struggles. Where some may see a chance to discuss the difficulties of living with these conditions, far too many see an opportunity to make a crazy antagonist or a way to give their character a dramatic end.

For example, the movie “Split” is controversial for its depictions of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). The film follows a group of 3 teenage girls kidnapped by a man with multiple personalities. The premise of the film starts off on the wrong foot by having the antagonist’s defining trait be the severity of his mental illness, reinforcing the stereotype that mentally ill people are dangerous. Further, it does so by giving in to the idea that mentally ill individuals are unable to control their actions. As the film goes on, these themes worsen, with the plot centering around the appearance of an unseen evil personality who controls the others and forces them to carry out its bidding, another painfully common stereotype seen in media depictions of DID.

Stigma surrounding mental illness has been a long-standing issue in the U.S., and poor portrayals only make it worse. Instead of giving people realistic representations, movies like “Split” can make those already suffering feel demonized and further alienated from those around them.

It is not just severe conditions that get a bad rap, either.

Conditions like depression and mood disorders are often portrayed as a personal moral failing rather than a genuine illness that people often need professional help to treat. Shows like “13 Reasons Why” and movies like “Silver Linings Playbook” have both faced heavy criticism in that regard.

The show “13 Reasons Why” proved especially controversial when it was released, as the Maryland Suicide Prevention and early Intervention Network wrote that, “[the] show portrays suicide as a reasonable option,” and according to The National Institutes of Health, following the release of the show, adolescent suicide rose significantly within a month.

Cutting corners can make it easier for creators to deliver their intended messages, sure. It can be difficult to get your message across if you get caught up in every last detail, but that does not mean good representation and an intriguing narrative are not mutually exclusive.

Released in 2022, “Signalis” is a survival-horror video game that represents mental health accurately. What starts as a simple story about finding a missing person gives way to themes of the lasting effects of traumatic dissociation. It is in your face, it is uncompromising and combined with the horror aspects of the game, it is uniquely distressing.

Sam Greer, a writer for Eurogamer, wrote, “[Signalis] is a profoundly affecting experience, both in the unnerving dread of its moment-to-moment exploration and fighting and also in the larger arc of its story: a rumination on identity and memory…”

One of the main characters of “Signalis,” Ariane Yeong, is depicted in such a way that really hit home for me. Ostracized from a young age, Ariane is always looked down on by her peers. Her unnaturally white hair sets her apart even further; people can tell that she is different with just a glance. Furthermore, she’s queer. As a transgender woman, I could not help but see part of myself in her.

“Signalis” is not alone in its accurate representations, either. For every disgracefully careless piece of media put out there, there is a piece with love and care put into it. More often than not, we just have to look past what our feeds will suggest to us.

Many of these representations fall outside the mainstream media for a variety of reasons, whether it be because of the themes these pieces often explore, like what it means to be gay in a society that rejects being queer, or the uncomfortable reality that an accurate, unadorned depiction of mental illness brings.

Some good representations can still make it into the mainstream, though. “Breaking Bad,” for example, drew in fans with its exciting surface-level plot following Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher turned renowned meth cook, as he attempts to make enough money for his family after his lung cancer diagnosis. Then, it sets aside time to properly address some of the inner complexities of other characters. Jesse Pinkman, one of the series’s main characters, has his struggles with substance abuse and trauma on full display. The show even depicts Jesse attempting to find comfort in a support group, but ultimately failing to do so in a realistic way that still benefits the story and shows the harsh reality that trauma can create.

While not every piece of media is going to be an amazing gem of representation, we as viewers, listeners, readers and players should be rewarding those who put in the effort to accurately portray those suffering not just from mental illness, but daily afflictions many of us live with.

That is what allows these pieces of media to be their best — just how uniquely they can connect and resonate with those who engage with them, providing a sense of comfort in a world of isolation. We need more of that in the world and less sensationalist exaggeration.