The Impact of Cinema on Mental Health Perceptions and Audience Well-Being
American University of Sharjah
College of Arts and Sciences
Department of English
ENG 204 – Advanced Academic Writing
Spring 2025
Section 27
Final Paper
The Impact of Cinema on Mental Health Perceptions
By: Kevin Koshy Alex B00098368
Major: Computer Science
Under the supervision of:
Dr. Tharwat El Sakran
Submission Date:
1st May 2025
The Impact of Cinema on Mental Health Perceptions and Audience Well-Being
The Impact of Cinema on Mental Health Perceptions and Audience Well-Being
Table of Contents
Abstract 3
Introduction 3
Research Objective 3
Research Question 3
Literature Review 4
Research Methodology 5
Data Collection Tool 5
Procedures 5
Results 6
Discussion 6
Conclusion 7
References 8
The Impact of Cinema on Mental Health Perceptions and Audience Well-Being
Abstract
This study examined how mental health was portrayed in cinema and its impact on audience perceptions. Three
films (A Beautiful Mind, Joker, American Psycho) and one TV show (Mr. Robot) were analyzed, categorized as
accurate or inaccurate representations. Audience and critic reviews were assessed through sentiment analysis.
Results showed that accurate portrayals like Mr. Robot and A Beautiful Mind received higher ratings, while
exaggerated portrayals like Joker and American Psycho displayed a disparity between audience approval and critic
reception. These findings highlight the influence of cinematic realism on mental health perceptions and the potential
harms of stigmatizing portrayals. In conclusion, accurate portrayals can reduce stigma and promote understanding,
while misrepresentations reinforce stereotypes. Future research should examine a broader range of films and more
diverse audience responses to enhance the understanding of mental health in cinema.
Keywords: audience perception, cinematic representation, mental health and cinema, mental health awareness,
mental health stigma
Introduction
Mental health is recognized as a crucial topic across various disciplines, including academia,
psychology, neurology, and medicine (Hernández-Torrano et al., 2020). With the rising
prevalence of mental health issues among contemporary populations, it is becoming increasingly
important to investigate the underlying causes of these challenges to develop a deeper and more
comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon. Fusar-Poli et al. (2019) defines good mental
health as “a state of well-being that allows individuals to cope with the normal stresses of life
and function productively” (p.2).
Cinema, as a powerful medium, serves as an essential vehicle for conveying complex emotions
and experiences (Portillo, 2024). This intimate connection between film and human emotion
positions cinema as a critical tool for exploring mental health narratives, offering nuanced
insights into individual struggles, societal perceptions, and the broader human condition.
Therefore, it is crucial to analyze how films depict mental health and how these portrayals, in
turn, shape audience perceptions.
Research Objective
This study aims to examine how mental health is portrayed in cinema and how its representation
may impact audience perceptions and attitudes. It will explore the accuracy of these
representations and their influence on public understanding of mental health.
Research Question
In other words, this research seeks to answer the following question:
How do cinematic portrayals of mental health influence audience perceptions and
attitudes?
Literature Review
The Impact of Cinema on Mental Health Perceptions and Audience Well-Being
Film plays a crucial role in shaping public perceptions of mental health, influencing societal
attitudes through both positive and negative portrayals. Goodwin et al. (2021) conducted a
systematic review of ten studies examining the effectiveness of film-based interventions in
adolescent mental health education. Their findings indicate that film significantly improves mental
health literacy (MHL) and reduces stigma, making it a promising tool for mental health awareness.
However, its impact on help-seeking behaviors remains mixed, with narrative-based films proving
less effective than instructional approaches. Notably, the review found no studies exploring film’s
role in resilience-building, despite its potential to promote emotional engagement and coping skills.
Given that resilience-building interventions often focus on emotion regulation and problem-
solving, future research should examine how film can serve as a model for developing
psychological resilience in adolescents. Similarly, the study by Sigamani et al. (2024) found that
films representing mental health increase empathy and help dismantle stereotypes. However,
despite raising awareness, they often fail to provide actionable solutions for coping with or treating
psychological disorders, a limitation also noted by Goodwin et al. (2021). Further supporting these
findings, Sznajder et al. (2022) found that viewing the film Lift the Mask: Portraits of Life with
Mental Illness significantly reduced stigma among both general audiences and mental health
professionals, underscoring the potential of authentic, humanizing portrayals to foster empathy and
challenge stereotypes. However, as Sznajder et al. caution, and Kilciksiz et al. (2023) emphasize,
the impact of such portrayals depends heavily on their authenticity. On the other hand, inaccurate
portrayals of mental health in films can lead to harmful misconceptions. Kilciksiz et al. (2023)
highlight several negative consequences of such misrepresentations. They note that individuals
with mental disorders are often portrayed as violent or dangerous, despite evidence showing they
are more likely to be victims of violence. The authors also discuss how psychiatrists are frequently
depicted as unethical, manipulative, or overly idealized, distorting public expectations of therapy.
These inaccurate portrayals contribute to hesitation in seeking professional help and exacerbate the
stigma surrounding individuals with mental health conditions, further marginalizing those who are
already vulnerable.
Research Methodology
Data Collection Tool
A brief analysis of three films and one television show was conducted to examine how mental
The Impact of Cinema on Mental Health Perceptions and Audience Well-Being
health was portrayed in visual media. Each work was categorized as either an accurate or
inaccurate representation to identify common themes and trends in the depiction of mental illness.
Audience and critic reviews were also analyzed to assess viewer responses, emotional impact,
overall sentiment, and potential areas for improvement. Additionally, supplementary insights were
drawn from a website developed by an undergraduate student at the University of Rochester, which
explored the portrayal of mental illness in films. This dual approach of analyzing both audience
and critic perspectives provided a balanced evaluation of representational accuracy and emotional
impact.
Procedures
I began by conducting online searches across various websites and discussion forums to identify
films and TV shows that prominently feature mental illness. I explored multiple platforms such as
Reddit and Quora where users shared their opinions on the accuracy of these portrayals. Based on
these insights, I classified American Psycho and Joker as inaccurate and negative portrayals,
whereas A Beautiful Mind and Mr. Robot were categorized as more accurate and positive. Next, I
used the average audience and critic scores across platforms like IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and
Metacritic to gauge general perception of these films. Additionally, I gathered 10 random audience
reviews and 10 critic reviews for each movie and analyzed their sentiment, categorizing them as
either positive or negative, using the Sentiment Analysis Tool on Rows, which can be accessed
here. During my research, I also came across a valuable supplementary resource: a website created
by an undergraduate student from the University of Rochester. This website offers additional
insights into how mental illness is represented in film and its influence on public attitudes toward
mental health treatment and care. The website can be accessed at Portrayals of Mental Illness in
Film and Their Impact on Viewers.
Results
Results indicate that more accurate portrayals of mental health, such as Mr. Robot, received an
average audience score of 88% and a critic score of 87% across the three review platforms
mentioned. A Beautiful Mind also received favorable scores, with an audience score of 83% and a
The Impact of Cinema on Mental Health Perceptions and Audience Well-Being
critic score of 73%. In contrast, less accurate and more exaggerated portrayals show notable
differences in scores. Joker, for instance, earned an audience score of 84%, while critics rated it at
64%. American Psycho followed a similar pattern, receiving a 79% audience score and a 66%
critic score. Furthermore, individual sentiment analysis of the reviews revealed the following
results: 8 out of the 10 audience reviews for accurate portrayals were positive in sentiment, while 7
out of the 10 critic reviews were positive. In contrast, for the more exaggerated portrayals, 7 out of
the 10 audience reviews were positive, while 7 out of the 10 critic reviews were negative.
Discussion
This study explored the impact of cinematic portrayals of mental health on audiences’ views and
attitudes. Results suggest that accurate and empathetic depictions such as A Beautiful Mind and
Mr. Robot receive stronger responses from both critics and audiences, likely due to their hopeful
narratives and psychological realism. These findings align with earlier studies by Goodwin et al.
(2021) and Sigamani et al. (2024), which highlight how realistic portrayals can enhance mental
health literacy and promote empathy. The high critic scores may reflect growing expectations for
socially responsible storytelling, while positive audience responses suggest that realistic
depictions can coexist with entertainment value. This reinforces the literature’s view of film not
only as a source of engagement but also as a powerful medium for shaping public perceptions of
mental health.
Conversely, films with exaggerated or stigmatizing portrayals such as Joker and American Psycho
tended to receive lower critic scores, despite high audience ratings. This contrast highlights
differing priorities: critics often value realism and ethical responsibility, while the general audience
may respond more to dramatic intensity and emotional impact. Such portrayals, as Kilciksiz et al.
(2023) argue, can reinforce harmful stereotypes by linking mental illness with violence,
glamorizing dangerous behavior, and distorting public understanding. Supporting this, Snyder et al.
(2024) found that inaccurate depictions of complex conditions like dissociative identity disorder
(DID) can fuel self-stigma, delay diagnosis, and heighten clinician skepticism — demonstrating
the tangible harms of sensationalized portrayals. Ultimately, the popularity of these films, despite
their inaccuracies, risks deepening public misunderstanding, reinforcing stigma, and hindering
efforts to promote empathy and social inclusion for individuals with mental health conditions.
The Impact of Cinema on Mental Health Perceptions and Audience Well-Being
Conclusion
In conclusion, this research examined how mental health is represented in visual media and its
impact on audience perceptions. The findings suggest that accurate and empathetic portrayals can
reduce stigma, promote greater awareness about mental health, while misrepresentations may
reinforce harmful stereotypes and contribute to public misunderstanding of mental health
conditions. Based on these findings, it may be recommended that filmmakers balance dramatic
storytelling with accuracy and sensitivity to real-life experiences, incorporating more nuanced and
realistic depictions of mental health struggles to foster understanding and empathy. However, this
research has limitations. The study focused on a limited selection of films, which may not fully
capture the diversity of mental health portrayals. Additionally, audience data from platforms like
IMDb and Metacritic may not accurately reflect the broader population, as these sites attract
specific user demographics. In light of these limitations, future research could benefit from a
broader selection of films and a more diverse range of audience responses to ensure a more
representative understanding of how mental health is perceived in visual media.
References
Fusar-Poli, P., De Pablo, G. S., De Micheli, A., Nieman, D. H., Correll, C. U., Kessing, L. V.,
Pfennig, A., Bechdolf, A., Borgwardt, S., Arango, C., & Van Amelsvoort, T. (2019).
What is good mental health? A scoping review. European Neuropsychopharmacology,
The Impact of Cinema on Mental Health Perceptions and Audience Well-Being
31, 33–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2019.12.105
Goodwin, J., Saab, M. M., Dillon, C. B., Kilty, C., McCarthy, A., O’Brien, M., & Philpott, L. F.
(2021). The use of film-based interventions in adolescent mental health education: A
systematic review. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 137, 158–172.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.02.055
Hernández-Torrano, D., Ibrayeva, L., Sparks, J., Lim, N., Clementi, A., Almukhambetova, A.,
Nurtayev, Y., & Muratkyzy, A. (2020). Mental Health and Well-Being of University
Students: A Bibliometric Mapping of the Literature. Frontiers in Psychology, 11.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01226
Kilciksiz, C. M., Xie, J., & Bederman, A. (2023). Visual Media: an aperture into the past and
future of psychiatry. American Journal of Psychiatry Residents Journal, 19(1), 12–15.
https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp-rj.2023.190104
Portillo, I. J. (2024). From body to world: empathy and the transformative power of cinematic
imagination. Frontiers in Human
Neuroscience, 18. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2024.1363720
Sigamani, N. P. E., Soni, N. V., & Gupta, N. S. (2024). Cinematic portrayals of mental health:
Exploring Hollywood’s impact on public understanding of mental health. International
Journal of Science and Research Archive, 13(1), 894–900.
https://doi.org/10.30574/ijsra.2024.13.1.1764
Snyder, B. L., Boyer, S. M., Caplan, J. E., Nester, M. S., & Brand, B. (2024). It’s not just a
movie: Perceived impact of misportrayals of dissociative identity disorder in the media
on self and treatment. European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 8(3), 100429.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejtd.2024.100429
Sznajder, K. K., Coppersmith, G., & Lynch, K. M. (2022). The power of film to reduce stigma of
mental health conditions. Cogent Social Sciences, 8(1).
https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2022.2123083
