Mental health is an important topic that is often overlooked in media, but it is refreshing to see it portrayed in anime. Anime has a way of humanizing complex issues and making them more relatable to its audience. In this blog post, we will be discussing how mental issue therapy is portrayed in some popular anime series.
Therapy is a crucial aspect of mental health treatment, but it can often be stigmatized or misunderstood. Anime has the ability to showcase the importance of therapy and destigmatize it for its viewers. By depicting characters struggling with mental health issues and seeking therapy, anime can demonstrate the effectiveness of therapy and the importance of seeking help when needed.
Also Read: Top 11 Most Depressed Anime Characters That You Can Relate To
Contents
List of mental health disorders that are depicted in popular anime
Depression – This is a mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest in activities. It can be depicted in anime through characters who struggle with low mood, difficulty enjoying things they used to enjoy, and difficulty with motivation and concentration.
Anxiety – This is a mental health disorder characterized by feelings of worry, anxiety, and fear that are out of proportion to the situation at hand. It can be depicted in anime through characters who experience excessive worry, difficulty relaxing, and physical symptoms such as rapid breathing or a racing heart.
Psychosis – This is a mental health disorder characterized by a loss of contact with reality, including hallucinations and delusions. It can be depicted in anime through characters who experience hallucinations or hold onto beliefs that are not based on reality.
Bipolar disorder – This is a mental health disorder characterized by extreme mood swings between mania and depression. It can be depicted in anime through characters who experience extreme mood changes, difficulty regulating their emotions, and impulsive behaviour.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – This mental health disorder can develop after a person experiences a traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, a car accident, or a military combat experience. It can be depicted in anime through characters who experience flashbacks, avoidance of triggers, and emotional reactions to reminders of the traumatic event.
The role of therapy and treatment in animes
Therapy and treatment play important roles in many anime series, as they often address mental health issues and the impact they can have on an individual’s life. In some anime, therapy and treatment are depicted as a way for characters to come to terms with their past traumas and find ways to cope with their emotions.
This can be a helpful way for viewers to learn about mental health and the importance of seeking help when needed. Additionally, the portrayal of therapy and treatment in anime can also help to reduce the stigma surrounding seeking help for mental health issues.
Characters Seeking Therapy or Treatment in Animes
Here are some examples of characters seeking therapy or treatment in anime:
Yuu Koito in Bloom Into You
Yuu seeks therapy to help her understand and come to terms with her own feelings and emotions, particularly her romantic and sexual attraction towards other people.
Kyousuke Kousaka in Oreimo
Kyousuke seeks therapy to deal with the stress and pressure he feels as a result of his overbearing and controlling sister, Kirino.
Natsu Dragneel in Fairy Tail
Natsu seeks treatment for his chronic motion sickness, which has affected his ability to participate in certain activities and adventures.
Kousei Arima in Your Lie in April
Kousei seeks therapy to help him overcome the trauma and grief he experienced after the death of his mother, a renowned pianist who was also his music teacher.
Tohru Honda in Fruits Basket
Tohru seeks therapy to cope with the emotional and psychological trauma she has experienced as a result of her difficult childhood and the loss of her mother.
Yu Narukami in Persona 4
Yu seeks therapy to help him understand and deal with the psychological issues he has been experiencing, which are revealed to be related to the manifestation of his persona, a manifestation of his inner psyche.
Why Accurate Representation of Mental Health Treatment is Important
It is important for media, including anime, to accurately portray mental health treatment in order to reduce stigma and misinformation. Unfortunately, there are some anime that do not accurately represent mental health treatment, potentially leading to misunderstandings about what treatment is like and how it can help.
However, there are also anime that does a good job of portraying mental health treatment accurately. For example, “Your Lie in April” is an anime that realistically depicts the struggles and challenges of a young boy dealing with depression and receiving treatment for it. The anime shows the boy attending therapy sessions, taking medication, and working with his therapist to develop coping strategies and improve his mental health. This accurate portrayal of mental health treatment can help to educate viewers and promote a better understanding of mental health care.
Conclusion
Overall, mental health treatment and therapy are important themes that are often depicted in anime in a nuanced and realistic way. These depictions can help to raise awareness about the importance of mental health care and encourage people to seek help if they are struggling.
