"Anything that is an overly-detailed, graphic portrayal of the suicide attempt or suicide death is known to have a specific risk for vulnerable individuals," Moutier said, noting that "glorifying" a suicide or elevating the deceased character to be a "hero" also poses risks.
That doesn't mean entertainment needs to block out all depictions of mental illness, but there are ways to properly address the issue in and outside of the episode. For one, suffering shouldn't be the sole narrative, because that perpetuates the idea that there isn't any hope for those with mental illness. Writers' rooms should enlist mental health experts early on to help them break down the ideas they want to explore, and consider if their narrative would leave viewers with a negative perception of seeking treatment. Actors should also be trained on how to properly discuss the topics while promoting their project.
"Media has done a much better job in recent years, but there are still times when you only see crisis situations," said Joy Harden Bradford, a psychologist and founder of the podcast "Therapy for Black Girls" and member of ViacomCBS's mental health advisory board. "That makes it seem as if mental health is not something we all have to pay attention to... the truth is that mental health is something we all have to take care of for ourselves."
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