Two studies find an increase in mental health portrayals on TV, and they’re more positive

We know that TV has the power to change minds on political and social issues. “When you look at all the data and statistics … young people, BIPOC LGBTQ people are having the largest mental health challenges and also, often, don’t have the same resources to access help,” she says. “The major result of this study is that when a series is influenced by a mental health intervention using the media guide or working with experts, we were more likely to see help-seeking activities like therapy or treatment for mental health conditions,” says Katherine Pieper, program director for the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative. He says you sometimes need “somebody new entering your life to provide a different perspective and to say, ‘Hey, you know, this isn’t OK.‘“ Chris McCarthy, office of the chief executive and president and chief executive of Showtime and MTV Entertainment Studios — and who, with Annenberg founder Stacy L. Smith, spearheaded the launch of the Storytelling Coalition in 2021 — tells The Times that “the research is clear and incredibly positive” proof that the media guide can help in “reducing stigma and importantly, encouraging behavioral change.” “With the growing mental health crisis, all creators across the industry serve an important role in developing responsible representation and character portrayals that spark conversation about mental health and reduce the devastating impact of stigma,” he says. “I feel very confident that, especially with this research, we know how to shift mental health representation and we know it has a positive impact on audiences’ behavior,” she says.