Let’s be honest—sometimes the best self-care option is not a session with a therapist or meditation through an app. Sometimes it is simply dropping on the couch, shutting off the noise of the real world, and immersing yourself in a story that is both soothing and authentic. Great TV doesn’t only serve the purpose of entertaining; it can help in recognizing, understanding, and dealing with our emotions, mental well-being, and even provide a few empathy and resilience lessons. In case you were looking for shows that provide emotional insight alongside escapism, this list will serve you best. The following are the nine series and a few extra picks that showcase mental health themes with empathy, laughter, and heart, while also proving that good storytelling can be a form of therapy in various ways.
9. Ted Lasso
Could a light-hearted sports comedy be the last thing we expected to see, a candid depiction of therapy? Ted Lasso is a run-of-the-mill, way too cheerful, clueless American coach who lands in the unpredictable world of English football, and beneath the bright humor is a profoundly strong story about anxiety, mourning, and mental illness stigmatization. Ted’s reluctance to therapy and the trust he gradually builds with his therapist are very authentic. The show reminds us that to be optimistic does not mean to deny one’s suffering but to meet it with kindness.
8. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Behind the witty songs and the romantic comedic chaos lies one of the most authentic representations of mental health issues on the screen of television. Rebecca Bunch’s experience of therapy, diagnosis, and recovery is very complex, and the show doesn’t shy away from this complexity; rather, it faces it directly. The series deals with borderline personality disorder in a very loving way and explains that recovery is neither simple nor straightforward. Rebecca is not the same as her problems, and that is exactly why her story is so relatable.
7. Black-ish
Usually, sitcoms are very shallow when it comes to postpartum depression, but Black-ish not only made the leap but also succeeded. In the wonderful episode that was broadcast on World Mental Health Day, Bow’s postpartum journey is depicted with utmost honesty and sensitivity, thus shedding light on the issue that most women, especially black mothers, keep in the dark. Being one of the very few mainstream comedies that treat mental illness seriously, without making it the joke, the show focuses on family, love, and the courage of asking for help instead.
6. Normal People
If raw, subtle storytelling is your cup of tea, Normal People is a must-see. The show sensitively portrays the manner in which anxiety and depression can insidiously seep into our relationships and self-esteem. Connell’s silent meltdowns and inner struggles are rendered with raw realism, providing a glimpse into how men experience mental health issues. It’s heartbreaking, heartbreaking, and profoundly human, evidence that vulnerability can be as strong as strength.
5. Euphoria
Rue, Zendaya’s character, is definitely not a typical teen heroine; rather, she is a tough, brash, and unflinching portrayal of addiction, loss, and mental illness. In no way does Euphoria romanticize the hardships; instead, it deals with the nuances of relapse, self-sabotage, and survival. The show communicates the wildness of teen years and the heavy emotional load of having invisible wounds, and at the same time, it counterbalances the pitch with a few bright spots of genuine beauty and human connection.
4. BoJack Horseman
The loudmouth critters are a facade. BoJack Horseman is a deeply serious and profound examination of the main character’s depression and self-destruction, which you will be surprised to learn are seldom talked about in the most unchanged way by a comedy series. Quite bluntly and with an unexpected tenderness, BoJack Horseman deals with the issues of addiction, regret, and the forever pursuit of life’s purpose. The show’s humor does not interfere with its point but rather supplements it, thereby making laughing a form of recuperation. The extent to which this show, in particular, comprehends the human mind’s upheaval is a notch higher than most others.
3. Spinning Out
This underappreciated gem needs more love. Spinning Out tracks an ice skater and her mother through the highs and lows of living with bipolar disorder in the pressure-cooker environment of elite sports. It understands and explains the disease with the help of very realistic-looking characters, and demonstrates stability not as a goal but as a balance that one has to struggle with every day. Although the show was canceled too soon, its impact was there.
2. Degrassi: The Next Generation
Not just a few years, but decades before the term “mental health representation” was even invented, Degrassi was already on the front line. Degrassi didn’t shy away from topics like suicide, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders; instead, it took a responsible approach to them. The usage of real teens and the broadcasting of the follow-up aids, like helplines and PSA, made Degrassi a pioneer in utilizing the medium of TV to educate rather than just entertain. For many, it was the first television show that made them feel understood.
1. Ginny & Georgia
Ginny & Georgia, a dramedy that treats its plotlines about mental health with remarkable sensitivity, is at the top of the list. Ginny’s depression and self-harm, Marcus’s depression, and Abby’s body issues were all handled sensitively and with honesty. The writers frequently consulted with the organizations of mental health to get the facts right, and it definitely shows. No matter how heavy the topic is, the series manages to find those grim and yet laughable, often happening, little moments of healing.
Animated Stories with a Psychological Edge
Maybe you want an animated story, but one that is not light, and you haven’t heard of Cowboy Bebop, Undone, and Love, Death & Robots? None of the three compromises on visual brilliance or the depth of the storyline; trauma, identity, and existential curiosity are some of the themes dealt with, and the viewers are left with these long after the credits roll. These shows are not in the least bit “cartoon,” rather, they are emotional journeys that are disguised.
The bulk of scientific evidence backs up what most of us are already aware of: fiction has therapeutic effects. The same mental processes that are required for empathy and emotional understanding are also used when one is reading fiction. A well-known cognitive scientist, Steven Pinker, has shown that fiction fosters compassion and the ability to take another’s perspective. In fact, it is like a gentle exercise of an already existing human attribute, empathy.
If moderately, escapism is not running away from problems, but a way of restoring one’s energy. Through it, we get the opportunity to have some fresh air, both physically and mentally, and also to correspond with the portions of our inner selves that we are quite likely to neglect due to the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives. The only stipulation is that you should allow fiction to renew you rather than take over your life.
So, why not pick one of these shows, settle down, and allow yourself to be taken to another world? However, don’t forget to return when the credits are being shown; your real life is still waiting for you to unfold it.