“Is South Asian Media Doing Enough to Break the Stigma Around Mental Health for Women?”
Introduction
Mental health is a critical topic that affects millions of people worldwide, but in South Asian communities, it’s often shrouded in silence, especially when it comes to women. For decades, mental health issues were considered a taboo subject, especially for women, who were expected to conform to rigid societal norms of behavior. However, as South Asian cinema, television, and OTT platforms expand, they increasingly portray characters struggling with mental health issues—some tackling the subject with sensitivity, others trivializing it for entertainment. But the question remains: Is South Asian media doing enough to break the stigma around mental health for women?
1. The History of Mental Health in South Asian Media
Historically, South Asian media has not been kind to portrayals of mental health. The “strong woman” trope—one who suffers in silence and carries the weight of her family and society—has dominated the screen for years. Mental health was often reduced to a plot device, used to explain erratic behavior or to provide a tragic backstory for female characters. Women who expressed their emotional struggles were often depicted as weak, mad, or unworthy of sympathy.
Even in mainstream Bollywood, mental health was rarely taken seriously. Characters dealing with trauma, depression, or anxiety were often dismissed or portrayed as comic relief. In some cases, the “cure” for mental health struggles was simply the love and care of a man, reinforcing the idea that women’s mental health was secondary to romantic relationships.
2. The Shift: New Narratives in South Asian Media
In recent years, South Asian media—especially with the rise of OTT platforms—has started to evolve in its approach to mental health. The portrayal of mental health struggles has grown more nuanced, focusing on characters who are battling depression, anxiety, or PTSD, with the intent to raise awareness rather than to stigmatize or trivialize.
- Dear Zindagi (2016): One of the landmark Bollywood films that directly tackled mental health was Dear Zindagi. The film starred Alia Bhatt as a young woman grappling with past trauma and seeking therapy. With Shah Rukh Khan’s character acting as her therapist, the film normalized therapy, breaking the taboo surrounding mental health conversations in mainstream cinema.
- Churails (2020): A groundbreaking Pakistani web series on ZEE5, Churails features strong female characters dealing with their own emotional turmoil—mental health struggles are deeply woven into the narrative. The show doesn’t shy away from portraying trauma, depression, and societal pressures on women, which are key to the characters’ development.
- Little Things (2016-2019): The Indian Netflix series Little Things depicts the mental health struggles of its lead character, Kavya, dealing with anxiety and emotional exhaustion in the context of her relationship. The show breaks down the stigma of mental health by portraying a realistic depiction of a young woman seeking therapy and talking about her emotional struggles openly.
3. The Challenges in Breaking the Stigma
While there has been undeniable progress, there’s still a long way to go when it comes to breaking the stigma around women’s mental health in South Asian media. In many instances, the topic of mental health is still used as a plot device, and mental illness is presented either as something to be “fixed” or as a permanent condition. The following are some of the key challenges:
- The Inconsistent Portrayal of Mental Health: Many South Asian dramas still fail to delve deeply into mental health issues, offering only surface-level treatment of depression, anxiety, or trauma. Some shows use mental illness as a way to develop the storyline but do not adequately address the complexities of the issue. Instead of providing a realistic depiction of a woman’s mental health journey, many shows are content to include fleeting moments of mental health struggles, often only to advance a plot or add melodrama.
- Reinforcing Gender Stereotypes: Even when mental health is portrayed seriously, South Asian media often reinforces harmful stereotypes, such as portraying women as inherently unstable or overly emotional. These representations can unintentionally perpetuate the idea that women are “too fragile” or “irrational,” which further deepens the stigma. It also overlooks the larger, systemic issues that contribute to mental health problems, such as gender inequality, domestic violence, or societal pressure.
- The Role of Male-Centric Storylines: Many films and shows still focus on male characters who are the protagonists in the mental health narrative, leaving women’s struggles in the background or positioning them as secondary characters. While male characters like in Taare Zameen Par (2007) or Chhichhore (2019) have provided compelling mental health storylines, female characters often receive less attention in mainstream media, despite the fact that women are disproportionately affected by mental health issues.
4. OTT Platforms: A Glimmer of Hope
OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and ZEE5 have given South Asian filmmakers the creative freedom to explore more complex and varied representations of mental health, particularly in their portrayal of women. These platforms allow for storytelling that can be more authentic, less bound by traditional censorship, and more focused on creating meaningful conversations around taboo subjects.
- The Verdict: State vs. Nanavati (2019): An Indian legal drama based on real events, The Verdict portrays the emotional toll and mental health issues faced by the lead character, bringing attention to the psychological aspects of his actions. Though it isn’t centered on women’s mental health, it indirectly highlights how mental strain can affect decisions, showing the importance of mental well-being.
- Mismatched (2020): This Indian Netflix series delves into the mental health of its female characters, especially the lead character, who struggles with self-worth and pressure from societal expectations. Though the portrayal is still evolving, it’s a step in the right direction for introducing mental health conversations in relatable, coming-of-age narratives.
5. What Needs to Change
Despite the progress, the portrayal of mental health in South Asian media is still not where it needs to be. To truly break the stigma around women’s mental health, here are some essential changes that need to happen:
- Depict Real Mental Health Struggles: Rather than using mental health as a plot device, South Asian media should take the time to explore the complexity of mental health struggles. Showing a woman’s mental health journey, the nuances of seeking therapy, and dealing with societal expectations can help foster a more compassionate understanding of the issue.
- Move Beyond the Stereotypes: South Asian media needs to move beyond the stereotypical representations of women as emotionally unstable or “too sensitive.” Mental health is not a gendered issue, and its portrayal should be free from patriarchal stereotypes.
- Promote Help-Seeking Behaviors: One of the most critical shifts South Asian media can make is promoting help-seeking behavior. Characters, particularly women, should be shown openly seeking therapy or support, without shame or fear of judgment. This would normalize mental health care as a part of overall well-being.
Conclusion
While South Asian media has made strides in addressing women’s mental health, there is still much work to be done. The portrayal of mental health as something more than a plot device or joke is a start, but true change requires more accurate, nuanced, and respectful representations. South Asian cinema and television have the power to break down the stigma surrounding mental health—it’s time they fully embrace that responsibility and continue to lead the charge in changing cultural perceptions.