The 13 Best Documentaries About Mental Health

Sep 5, 2023 | Best Of, Health

Mental health is a topic that isn’t often discussed openly, but it’s an important issue to understand and address. Documentaries can be powerful ways to gain insight into this complex topic, offering unique perspectives on the struggles and triumphs of living with mental illness. In this article.

 

1. One Family’s Fight for Mental Health Care

At 16, Tearah is still struggling with her mental illness, which has kept her in a hospital for far too long. Her mother Shayna puts up an incredible fight to find the best possible treatment that can help her daughter. But it means that she’s at risk of losing the place she calls home and even custody of Tearah if things don’t work out.

 

2. Tablets for depression – Do antidepressants help?

Medication plays a role in the treatment of mild-to-moderate depression, but experts and patients alike are divided on the effectiveness of antidepressants. In Germany, prescriptions for antidepressant drugs have risen eightfold since the early 1990s despite studies showing placebos to be just as effective against mild and moderate depression cases.

 

3. Mental Health Documentary

This film takes us on a journey through time, exploring how mental health treatment has evolved over the decades. We hear stories from patients and professionals across the Great Lakes, who have witnessed America’s changing attitudes towards psychiatric illness and the improvements in treatment options.

 

4. The Day I Snapped

No one needs to be a mind reader to know that stress is an unavoidable part of life in the 21st century. In fact, it’s often seen as a sign of success and accomplishment. But when does stress go from being a minor annoyance to a major meltdown?

 

5. How does touch affect our mental and physical health?

We humans rely on touch – from our first contact with the world to providing us a sense of love and belonging. The role of touch in regulating stress and pain levels, as well as who we trust and fear, is immeasurable. It cannot be denied that gentle touch is an integral part of our lives, affecting all aspects of our health and wellbeing.

 

6. Living with a schizophrenic

Patrick, 33 years old, has been struggling with schizophrenia for a long time now. His sixth hospitalization is proof of this. Magali, 22, has to battle her way through auditory and visual hallucinations daily – a fear that keeps her from making contact with people and even led her to drop out of school in the third grade.

 

7. Conquering My Messy Mind

This film follows three unique individuals who are determined to master their own mental health. Libby has anxiety but is on a mission to make her first solo walk to school with her head held high. Ethan, who has ADHD, is taking strides towards building his self-esteem and learning to speak on the phone without fear.

 

8. I Just Lost Control of Myself | The Day I Snapped

In today’s world, stress has become an almost unavoidable part of life and success. We often hear people talk about the pressures of their jobs and how it is taking a toll on them. The Day I Snapped takes a deeper look into what happens when anxiety gets too much to cope with.

 

9. The 8 Year Old With Body Dysphoria

Children today are facing a difficult world, and many have been diagnosed with mental health disorders or feel lost in their own identities. The Tavistock and Portman has been on the forefront of exploring young minds for nearly a century–and now, for the first time ever, we’ve gained exclusive access to this remarkable institution.

 

10. The Man Who Is Obsessed With The Number 12

Hugh is a man living with an extreme case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. His life is heavily burdened with rigid routines and overwhelming anxieties that hinder his daily progressions. In order to break free from the tight grip of OCD, Hugh has sought out a leading psychiatric specialist who is helping him confront his fears and challenges head on.

 

11. Exploring Acute Mania: A Bipolar Expedition

Paul Downes, a 49-year-old businessman with bipolar disorder, had an ambitious plan. He invited 12 young Ukranian women to join him in a Jamaican castle – some of them part time models – and proposed that they all become his wives. It seemed like the start of a fantasy kingdom he was determined to build but things quickly spiraled out of control.

 

12. The Great British Happiness Experiment

Do you have questions about depression, happiness and resilience? Then join the Great British Happiness Experiment! In this documentary, a group of people will undergo tests and social experiments to reveal how they can improve their moods and overall wellbeing. They’ll explore why people get depressed and what it takes to build resilience and gratefulness in everyday life.

 

13. Understanding Mental Health In Children and Adolescent

At Absolute Documentaries, we bring you the most entertaining and fascinating documentaries for free. Whether it’s a story of a crime, an experience from around the world, family life, science or psychiatry – we have it all!

Read On – Our Latest Top Documentaries Lists

David B