TV Shows that Deal with Mental Health: Euphoria
*Spoiler Alert*
When talking about mental health in TV shows, it’s very likely that one of the first few shows brought up is HBOMax’s Euphoria, and rightfully so. Euphoria centres itself around a group of teenagers dealing with their own trauma and insecurities, and how it ultimately impacts the way they view their personal relationships with others. Often, TV shows attempt to be inclusive when tackling a heavy topic like mental health. At the same time, these shows tend to villainise said characters or have them miraculously cured after a couple sessions of therapy. Euphoria, however, emphasises how difficult and cruel the road to recovery can be.
Rue, the protagonist who is also played by Zendaya, embodies this message. Out of all the characters, viewers gain the most insight into her life, following her journey as she suffers from anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, as well as drug addiction. Throughout season one, Rue attempts to kick her addiction for Jules, a new girl who enters her school. However, after a falling out with Jules, Rue ends up back at square one, and her addiction actually grows stronger in season two.
The most notable episode in season two is undoubtedly episode 5, titled “Stand Still Like the Hummingbird”, where we see Rue go through the symptoms of drug withdrawal, and how she destroys the relationships with those around her. The entire episode involves one blow after another - Rue having a heated argument with her mother that gets physical, finding out that Jules was the one who outed her for using again, and realising that her stash of drugs has been flushed down the toilet. The stakes are extremely high in this episode as we see Rue run away from her mum on their way to the rehab centre, deal with the tough symptoms of drug withdrawal, and being turned away from the people closest to her.
Euphoria does not leave room for any glorification of sex and drug abuse– throughout the entire show, the lives of these characters are depicted as absolutely horrible. While not every episode is as intense or stressful as “Stand Still Like the Hummingbird”, there is always a feeling of discomfort that lingers. Characters are never free from the dark, but thankfully there are occasional glimpses of hope that peek through, symbolising that there is a chance of eventual redemption and recovery for them. Rue rebuilding her relationships at the end of season two suggest that there has been a shift in her attitude in how she plans to tackle her addiction. At the same time, we know that the road to recovery tends to be long and arduous. While it seems possible that Rue may get a happy ending, there is still a lingering doubt as to whether she’ll relapse and go back to her old ways.
Of all the shows that deal with mental health, I personally feel that Euphoria is the “heaviest”, and it is not something you would want to binge on in one sitting (well, you can, but I don’t recommend it as it can be really triggering). Although there has been discourse on Twitter suggesting that the show relies on shock value to increase viewership, I feel that there is a benefit in some scenes being shocking and uncomfortable. After all, mental health and the struggles around it IS an uncomfortable subject to talk about. It is extremely personal and emotionally demanding, and it is important for people to understand the highs and lows that someone with declining mental health goes through. No conversation about mental health is easy, but by raising awareness through various forms of media such as a TV show like Euphoria, we can make starting that conversation a little easier.