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Mental Illness in Television
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
 Positive and accurate representation
 Negative and inaccurate representation |
The Practice, ABC, 2003
A realistic story about a woman with schizophrenia whose plea of not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) fails, and who is ordered to be medicated so she will be "competent" for execution (NAMI, April-May, 2003).
The Practice, ABC, April 7, 2003
A woman with bipolar disorder kidnaps the CBS-TV network president and holds him hostage, threatening to kill him on national television. This episode reinforces the worst stereotypes of people with mental illnesses and mocks the justice of NGRI verdicts (NAMI, April-May, 2003).
CSI, CBS, January 9, 2003
A father sedates his adult daughter, who has refused to take lithium for her bipolar disorder. He cuts her wrist to stage a suicide attempt so he can have her committed; however, she bleeds to death. The episode is full of inaccuracies about bipolar disorder, stigmatizing language, and negative and false representations of bipolar disorder (NAMI, Jan. 2003).
As Told by Ginger, "Lunatic Lake," Nickelodeon, November 2002
The opening minutes of this cartoon refer to a character with bipolar disorder as being "on the loose," "a lunatic," and "emotionally unstable." Throughout the episode, this "crazy" character is shown barking like a dog, with rolling "crazy eyes" and talking incoherently (NAMI, March 2003).
ER, 2001
Sally Field realistically portrayed Maggie Wycenski, a woman and mother struggling with bipolar disorder in six episodes (NAMI, June 14, 2001).
Car Talk, NPR, Dec. 15, 2001
Episode begins with a parody of Christmas carols trivializing and mocking symptoms of mental illness (NAMI, Dec. 21, 2001).
Drew Carey Show, Season Finale, May 2001
Episode shows Drew Carey locked up in a mental institute, heavily drugged and in a straitjacket (NAMI, Aug. 2001).
Once and Again, 2000
Excellent portrayal of a man with schizophrenia in an episode of this show (NAMI, Aug. 2001).
The following are a few examples of episodes from prime-time television series that aired between 1980 and 1989. Each involved mental illness. Episode descriptions appeared originally in the television-guide section of the Washington Post, and were reprinted verbatim in Otto Wahl's 1995 book, Media Madness: Public Images of Mental Illness. Specific air dates are not listed in Wahl.
The A-Team
Following the crash of their plane in the Appalachians, the team members are stalked by a crazed band of mountain men.
Baywatch
A psychopathic murderer who has escaped from prison takes Stephanie and Summer hostage in a lifeguard tower.
Cheers
Diane fears she is being followed by a deranged actor.
Coach
Despite his team's important victory, Hayden remains depressed over his breakup with Christine.
Dear John
Club members help Mary Beth overcome depression after she loses her job.
Doogie Howser, M.D.
On Christmas Eve, Doogie gets sidetracked by a schizoid patient who thinks he's Santa Claus.
Hart to Hart
An insanely jealous woman murders those she believes stand between her and her obsession-Jonathan.
The Jeffersons
A comedy of errors lands George in a mental hospital where he almost goes crazy trying to convince the staff he is sane.
Miami Vice
A stripper with a dual personality goes on a killing spree.
Night Court
A paralyzing snowstorm leaves Harry stranded in the courthouse with a group of lunatics.
Quantum Leap (season finale)
In a mental institution, Sam undergoes electroshock therapy which results in his having multiple personalities - from past leaps - and Al loses contact.
Taxi
Latka's girlfriend from the old country is bombarded by romantic overtures from both sides of Latka's split personality.
Three's Company
Jack and Janet mistake Terri's co-worker for an escaped patient from the psycho ward.
20/20
Patty Duke talks about her fight to recover from manic depression, her suicide attempts, her family, and the drug lithium.
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