Mental Illness Mascots Across Generations

How we perceive mental health through pop culture. (Written for Psychology Today)

Photo by Luke Jones on Unsplash

When I give keynotes and workshops about mental health, I often ask the group, “If mental illness had a mascot, who would it be?” It’s always fascinating to hear the responses. What’s even more intriguing is how these answers shift depending on the age of the participants. The generational differences in how we perceive mental health are striking — who we picture when we think about mental illness often reflects not only our personal experiences but also the cultural climate of the times in which we grew up.

For example, when I ask Baby Boomers or Gen Xers this question, they say names like Hannibal Lecter from The Silence of the Lambs, Jack Nicholson’s character in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, or the villains from films like Psycho and Fatal Attraction. These figures are all from movies that depicted mental illness in ways that are now considered sensational or stigmatizing — violent, unpredictable, and deeply troubling. When these generations were growing up, mental illness was often portrayed in media as synonymous with criminality or madness.

In addition, when I ask people to associate mental illness with public figures, older generations often think of icons like Robin Williams, Kate Spade, Anthony Bourdain, Kurt Cobain, and Margot Kidder.

All of these people died by suicide.

With this in mind, it’s no wonder why there is so much stigma surrounding mental health, especially for older generations. If I grew up thinking having a mental illness meant you were going to end your life or become violent, unstable, and scary, I wouldn’t admit that I had a mental illness.

As important as it is to recognize the tragic stories of people like Robin Williams and Kate Spade, it’s also essential to emphasize that mental illness is not always linked to death or violence. You might hear someone argue differently, citing that 46% of people who die by suicide had a known mental health condition. But this is an easily misunderstood statistic. This data is NOT saying that 46% of people with mental illness die by suicide. It is saying that of the people who died by suicide, 46% had a known mental health condition. Understanding this difference is paramount in helping to shine a more positive light on those with mental illness.

The New Wave of Mental Health Heroes

When I ask people from younger generations — especially Millennials and Gen Z-ers — whom they associate with mental illness, their answers often reflect a more nuanced, more empathetic view of mental health. Today, mental illness is increasingly seen as something that can be managed, treated, and even celebrated. This shift is partly due to more positive portrayals of mental health in pop culture. Today’s “mental health mascots” include people like Simone Biles, who took a step back from Olympic competition to prioritize her mental health; Billie Eilish, who has been outspoken about her experiences with depression, Tourette Syndrome, and body dysmorphia; Selena Gomez, who openly shared her diagnosis of bipolar disorder and experiences with depression; and Michael Phelps, who publicly talks about his post-Olympic depressive episode.

These figures represent a new generation of mental health advocates who show that even the most successful, high-profile people can face mental health challenges. They show us that having a mental illness and being successful are not mutually exclusive.

In my workshops, I encourage people to ask themselves: What would it look like if we pictured mental illness differently? Would we still picture violent criminals or incompetent members of society? Would we still whisper the word “therapy” or believe that a mental health diagnosis is a death sentence?

It’s easier to talk about mental health when we can compare ourselves to someone like Simone Biles, one of the greatest athletes in the world, rather than someone who died by suicide. It’s a shift in perspective that encourages us to think of mental health in broader, more inclusive ways, where struggles are acknowledged but not equated with failure or hopelessness.

The Power of a Mascot

Who is your mental health mascot? Whether you identify with someone like Selena Gomez or Robin Williams, the important thing is to realize that there’s no “right” answer. Mental illness doesn’t look the same for everyone. It can take on many forms, and sometimes it’s subtle; it’s more than just the public tragedies we read about in the headlines.

While thinking of your mental health mascot is often subconscious, if you want to shift how you view mental illness, you must make it an active choice. You don’t have to be stuck with a stigmatized view of mental illness just because that’s how you grew up. Make a conscious effort to think of someone who embodies what you want to believe about mental health, even if you don’t yet believe it.

So what does mental illness look like?

There’s no ignoring that it might look like someone who dies by suicide. But it can also look like professional athletes, record-breaking artists, and world-renowned actors.

And I can tell you with pride that it also looks like me.

Link to original article: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/mind-the-generation-gap/202412/mental-illness-mascots-across-generations

If you or someone you love is contemplating suicide, seek help immediately. For help 24/7 dial 988 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, or reach out to the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. To find a therapist near you, visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory.