Idk what to say about this but lets discuss things that bother u in these stories or things that people dont/need to do. Or what u feel is portrayed wrong
One of my biggest problems with the way that mental health issues are portrayed is when they’re used as a scapegoat for bad behaviour. Especially with bad boys! The readers will question his attitude and then in the next chapter the author’s added in something about him having a mental health problem, a learning disability or something like ADHD to explain away his behaviour.
So badly researched and poorly put out there. No, the MC doesn’t have to put up with abuse just because the bad boy has a mental health problem! Also, there are hundreds of people in the world with hundreds of mental health problems who’d never hurt a fly.
Let’s stop using mental health as a scapegoat. It normalises abuse and demonises mental health issues
14 Likes
Also, it’s often the bad boy himself who uses the mental health problem as an excuse. That annoys me because if he’s aware of the fact that his mental state is having a negative effect on others, how could he not be trying to do anything about it? No, they don’t have to succeed all the time. It’s fair enough that it affects them, but they should be aware of this and try not to hurt the people they love. They often say it so casually or to actually excuse their attitudes instead of to explain and apologise.
Like, we all have slip-ups, mental health issues or no. And mental health problems are naturally going to impact our social relationships, often not in the way we’d want. But constant awful treatment followed by “Well, I have bipolar disorder 
” is just someone who us hiding a bad attitude behind a mental health problem.
8 Likes
Then it becomes this thing where the people are using their mental health problem to not self reflect and grow as a person. Having a mental health problem doesn’t make you bad and you can always improve yourself.
9 Likes
People always portray only one aspect to anxiety which is social. They never show any other type like generalized or panic disorder or agoraphobia. They never show panic attacks or anything…its just excessive unrealistic stammering when talkin to ppl…If a panic attack is shown its the MC doing tht breathing animation to calm herself and going on her day like nothing happened.
Mental health stories always take place at school which i guess considering ppl makes sense…
Though idk why but depression portrayal bothers me the most.(TBC)
9 Likes
I hate the portrayal of depression so much! It can be so debilitating and people just don’t get it! They act like it’s being sad for a little bit, when it’s so, so much more than that!
I’d also like to see some people with actual functioning depression. Seeing them actually numb during their activities but managing to go on with their lives. None of this “I cry through my smile” cliche stuff
8 Likes
I loathe tht im “smiling but crying” crap
No one talks about how everything is boring or how ur favorite things dont bring you joy. Or how weighed/tired down you feel for no reason.
5 Likes
It really doesn’t take that much research to realise, either so it really does look lazy
4 Likes
Yes. This 
you can’t just give someone a mental health problem.
And I want people to start doing research. And no, briefly skimming over the NHS website isn’t research. If you’re going to portray such a sensitive topic, you have to be mindful.
7 Likes
Tell me about it! A bloody side note! At least work it into the story! And stop acting like having a mental health problem means any bad behaviour is ok. That’s not how it works 
5 Likes
I hate in stories about depression they only wanna represent the crying and how an extrovert becomes withdrawn and sad…depressions so much more than that.
They never explore the thoughts behind suicide or the thoughts of Selfharm.
Its always self loathing and graphic injury/suicides.
Or some sad faced character and long self loathing text box.
8 Likes
I hate the portrayal of depression in stories and most literature as well. It makes me so aggravated.
Speaking of anger, why can’t chronic anger (it’s a thing that stems from trauma) be shown as well? Or PTSD?
6 Likes
I have never seen any PTSD stories…odd considering some of the trauma MCs go through
5 Likes
I agree with you about the way depression is written on stories. There’s more to it than either trying to hurt yourself or lashing out at others like I’ve seen in stories.
I’ve dealt with people with anger issues and no can really portray that correctly in a story. It’s not pretty im real life. The sad part is even the nicest person can have anger issues and no knows about. I try to stay away from stories like that because it can get tediious when they write it wrong.
5 Likes
Exactly… It makes no sense
4 Likes
I agree. As a person with anger issues, I turn into a different person when I’m angry. No, I’m not “sassy”. I’m straight up horrible
4 Likes
Yeah, I had a friend at work at like someone else entirely towards me. He is a nice guy but he has anger problems and I was the one always nearby.
3 Likes
Wow, how unfortunate…
3 Likes
It’s okay, I’m out of thay department now and I enjoy it better. I heard he might be leaving anyway since he wants to move up and the deli manager won’t leaving because he’s the chef.
4 Likes
They should look into a person’s mental health before hiring them.
3 Likes