Expand depictions of mental health to reflect the full continuum of experiences — from thriving to coping to struggling.

Represent diverse characters and communities to help viewers from all backgrounds feel seen, recognize warning signs, and reach out for help.

Show conversations about mental health happening in relatable ways to make viewers more comfortable with speaking up and asking for help.

Elevate stories of friends and family members who are supportive and show how to effectively support someone who’s struggling.

Show positive and productive treatment experiences to help diminish fear and misconceptions.

Highlight how self-care and coping practices can positively impact our mental health, and avoid implying that self-care is an indulgence or luxury.

Portray the complex factors that contribute to mental health challenges to better equip viewers to support themselves and others.

Try to avoid: incorrect usage of medical terminology (like schizo, bipolar); defining people by their condition (say person experiencing depression instead of depressed person); and talking about suicide in a stigmatizing way (use died by suicide instead of committed suicide).

Be mindful of stereotypes when depicting mental health challenges or themes and aim for authenticity over tropes.

Try not to overemphasize stigma, judgment, or mistreatment related to mental health, which can prevent viewers from speaking up and getting help.

Ensure that storylines involving harmful behaviors do not unintentionally provide information that could make viewers more likely to engage in those behaviors themselves.

Provide viewers with ways to take action after watching your content, to help turn an emotional reaction into a positive outcome.