How Film Portrays Mental Illness

[Frank W. Baker]

Historically, the way mental illness has been portrayed on the big screen and on television did little to help remove stigma. But cinematic depictions of the mentally ill as hopeless figures of fear, pity or ridicule are slowly being challenged. A meeting in Australia will look at how empathy can be boosted and community awareness raised by responsible, accurate depictions of what life is like for the mentally ill.