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Depression and self-harm are serious issues that are difficult to understand. According to the World Health Organization, one in eight individuals worldwide suffers from mental disorders, including major depression and borderline personality disorder. [1]
Movies can provide a window into the experience of those suffering from these conditions, giving insight into the complex emotions of different characters. Let's discuss the top ten movies about depression and self-injury.
From dark comedy to horror movies, these films provide a realistic portrayal of the struggles people face when dealing with a depressive episode, which can lead them to engage in self-mutilation or commit suicide.
Synopsis: Due to impromptu family planning, Riley (11 years old) is forced to leave her life and friends in Minnesota and move to San Francisco. As a result, she struggles to manage her emotions, fear, anger, joy, disgust, and sadness in a new environment, leading to mental health struggles.
The film highlights how mental health disorders and illnesses can affect people of any age, and even in the darkest times, there can be hope. Also, it emphasizes the importance of therapy sessions, like Online Therapy, when dealing with mental illness and health issues.
Rating: 4/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Where To Watch: VUDU Fandango, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV
Movie Length: 1h 35m
Common Sense Media PG Rating: 6+
Synopsis: Lee Chandler becomes the guardian of his teenage nephew after his brother dies. This forces him to move back home and confront his tragic past.
Rating: 4.5/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Where To Watch: Prime Video
Movie Length: 2h 17m
Common Sense Media PG Rating: 17+
Synopsis: Theodore Twombly is an introverted writer who buys an AI to help him write. However, he falls in love after realizing that the AI can learn and adapt.
Rating: 3.5/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Where To Watch: In theaters, VUDU Fandango, Prime Video, Apple TV
Movie Length: 1h 59m
Common Sense Media PG Rating: 16+
Based on a true story, the Edge of Seventeen is about a female protagonist, Hailee Steinfeld. Other actors are Woody Harrelson, Haley Lu Richardson, Kyra Sedgwick, and Blake Jenner.
The movie follows the story of Nadine Franklin (Hailee Steinfeld), a teenage girl struggling to cope with her father's death and her isolated mother-daughter relationship while navigating through the obstacles of teenage life. She finds comfort and guidance in the form of a father-daughter relationship with an eccentric high school teacher (Woody Harrelson).
Rating: 3/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Where To Watch: VUDU Fandango, Prime Video, Apple TV
Movie Length: 1h 45m
Common Sense Media PG Rating: 16+
Synopsis: A 2006 Academy Award-winning film directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, following the Hoover family. They travel across the country to enable Olive to attend a beauty pageant in California.
The film focuses on the struggles the family faces throughout their journey as it touches on issues such as shaping depression, drug abuse, suicide attempt, and dysfunctional family relationships. Richard, Sheryl, and Dwayne are all dealing with some form of substance abuse or severe depression, while Olive struggles to cope with her grandfather's suicide.
Rating: 4/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
Where To Watch: VUDU Fandango, Prime Video, HBO MAX, Apple TV
Movie Length: 1h 42m
Common Sense Media PG Rating: 16+
Synopsis: Karen and Marie pay a visit to their sister Agnes, who has been diagnosed with cancer, but they're unable to support her because they themselves suffer from mental illness. Marie is dealing with her husband's committed suicide, and Karen resents her sister.
Rating: 4/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
Where To Watch: VUDU Fandango, Prime Video, HBO MAX, Apple TV
Movie Length: 1h 35m
Google PG Rating: 17+
Synopsis: Carrie White's mental health condition deteriorates as a result of bullying at school and abuse from her mother. Nevertheless, when mysterious events begin to occur around her, she begins to believe she possesses extraordinary abilities. Things take a violent turn along the way.
Rating: 2/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Where To Watch: In theaters, VUDU Fandango, Prime Video, Paramount+, ShowTime, Apple TV
Movie Length: 1h 38m
Common Sense Media PG Rating: 15+
Synopsis: Arielle Holmes is a young woman who is addicted to drugs. She spends her days wandering the streets of New York hunting for her next fix, while her boyfriend comes and goes. Later on, she considers attempting suicide.
Rating: 4.5/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
Where To Watch: VUDU Fandango, Prime Video
Movie Length: 1h 35m
Common Sense Media PG Rating: 17+
Synopsis: With a 45-day window, David is tasked to find a partner in a hotel, or he'll be transformed into an animal of his choosing.
Rating: 3/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
Where To Watch: VUDU Fandango, Prime Video, HBO MAX, Apple TV
Movie Length: 1h 58m
Common Sense Media PG Rating: 15+
Synopsis: Black Swan is a psychological thriller directed by Darren Aronofsky that delves into the depths of a ballerina’s mental state. Starring Natalie Portman as Nina, the film follows a young girl and her strife for perfection in her ballet career.
In the course of playing both Black Swan and White Swan roles in the play, Nina develops bipolar disorder. Paranoia and dangerous hallucinations erupt as she desperately tries to cope.
Rating: 4.5/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 85%
Where To Watch: VUDU Fandango, Hulu, Prime Video, Apple TV
Movie Length: 1h 48m
Common Sense Media PG Rating: 18+
Mental illnesses can be difficult to understand, but movies can help you gain insight into how different people experience them. There are a variety of films that capture the lives of people living with mental health conditions and the complexity of their conditions. While all these films provide an important look at mental disorders, it's essential to remember that everyone’s experience with mental disorders is unique.
If you or someone you know is struggling mentally, seek help from a mental health professional. With the right support group, recovery and healing from a mental health disorder or breakdown are possible.
You can take this quick depression test to check if you have the condition.
Movies can give you a visual illustration of how different people handle depression. See the top movies about depression and self-harm in this article.
Self-harm is a growing issue in the media today, especially among young women, and its representation in movies has become a source of debate. While some argue that it raises awareness and encourages people to seek help, others worry that it could be glamorized or used as entertainment.
Watching movies can be a great way to take your mind off of your worries and distract yourself from the feelings of clinical depression. Whether it’s a classic comedy, an inspiring drama, a horror film, or an exhilarating action film, it can help you to escape from reality, allowing you to explore different worlds and stories.
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