The film industry has been embracing diversity.  There have been mentally ill characters in many recent shows, including Glee, American Horror Story, and Orange is the New Black. In television, mental illness has been portrayed in both positive and negative lights.

Fans of Glee praise the show for its depiction of Becky Jackson, a cheerleader with down syndrome. However the Fox hit generated controversy after airing an episode in which Jackson, played by developmental diasbilities activist Lauren Potter, brings a gun to school, prompting a lockdown. Vice President of the National Down Syndrome Society, Julie Cevallos argued, “Taking a gun to school is something very serious and would likely come with a mental health condition. That’s not appropriate for someone with Down syndrome and not a stigma they need.” Potter’s mother, Robin Sinkhorn disagreed, telling The Huffington Post, “If Becky’s going to be fully included on the show—which they’ve done such a good job about that and giving her these juicy stories—then why not Becky?” The debate regarding the characterization of Becky continues, and Glee creator stands by the episode, calling it the most powerful emotional Glee ever” on Twitter.

Another hit show to spotlight a character with mental disabilities is American Horror Story on FX.  Autistic actress, Jamie Brewer, plays Adelaide Langdon in the show’s opening season, “Murder House.” While Adelaide warns the other characters to stay away from the “Murder House,” she appears very sinister. Many worry this character is a misrepresentation of those with mental illnesses. Skeptics of this depiction in American Horror Story question the show’s true intentions with Adelaide Langdon and the other mentally disabled characters that appear through its seasons.

Many appreciate the depiction of Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren, who stars in Orange is the New Black. Suzanne is portrayed as an emotionally unstable inmate with a violent past. Suzanne’s childhood was disturbed from frequent bullying due to her mental health issues. While considered a comical character, Suzanne is offended by the label associated with her nickname. Uzo Aduba, who plays “Crazy Eyes”, earned Emmy Award recognition in the comedy and drama genres for her role.

It may seem that the film industry is opening up to the idea of disability, but some find that disabled characters are being represented negatively. Katy Shannon ‘17, says “It is a good thing that they are portraying characters with mental health issues at all. Still, they have a long way to come when portraying characters in a positive and more “normal” light, not just as a punchline or something to be afraid of.”

Mrs. Kenney shared her view, saying, “The truth is, many directors and writers have used mental health issues as a way to question what is “normal.” To writers and directors, looking through the eyes of people who are different then themselves is another way to see the world. Many artists and writers have mental health issues themselves, so they are examining the link between mental health and creativity.” There are multiple cases where the film and television industries embrace the mentally and physically disabled. Sometimes though, disability has been portrayed in a negative light. The film industry might be welcoming new ideas, but they still have a long way to go.