Mental Health/Illness in Dramas
Dramas where mental health/illness is a major theme and/or highly relevant to a significant character(s). This is not a list for bouts of suffering or vague references to some sort of mental health issue or illness, I will only include series where mental health is at the centre or is central to a major character in some way.
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1. It's Okay, That's Love
Korean Drama - 2014, 16 episodes
Author and psychiatrist meet and get off on the wrong foot. Through circumstances they come to know each other and develop romantic feelings. They are both grappling with their own mental health issues, as are many of the side characters.
It's a really sensitive and raw portrayal of mental health, largely the right level of empathetic, realistic and respectful for my tastes. It's also very romantic too. Great script, acting and production. Quite heavy, but enough lightness to keep you sane.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM-6ZqJURcI [long, has spoilers]
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2. It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
Series about Moon Gang Tae, a psychiatric nurse, as he moves, with his older brother Moon Sang Tae, back to his hometown after many years.
Sensitive handling of mental health. Excellent acting. Interesting script with multi-dimensional characters. Bit melodramatic to be honest, but really sucks you in.
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3. Project S The Series: Skate Our Souls
Thai Drama - 2017, 8 episodes
Boo, a high school student, has been secretly suffering from depression. His grades are falling, leading to increasing issues with his relationship with his dad. One day he gets into skateboarding and discovers it helps him. His father disapproves.
This is really quite dark and has almost no light moments. The acting is exquisite and the direction and production is genuinely really well done. It has a believable script.
Trigger warnings for this one include (but not limited to): significant injury, self-harm, suicidal ideation, mentions of a suicide.
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4. Kill Me, Heal Me
Korean Drama - 2015, 20 episodes
Follows a psychiatric resident and a character with multiple personality disorder.
The acting is great for this one, especially Ji Sung. Very addictive drama.
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5. Hyde, Jekyll, Me
Korean Drama - 2015, 20 episodes
A chaebol, with multiple personality disorder, clashes with circus master when he decides to close down his circus.
I never finished this one, but it wasn't bad, just never got back to it. If you want a story with MPD portrayal, while the acting is good in both, I would recommend Kill Me, Heal Me more as the writing and story are better imo.
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6. Clean With Passion For Now
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
Male Lead has mysophobia [severe fear of germs] and displays some OCD-like behaviours. He owns a cleaning business and is very wealthy. He ends up hiring a woman to his company as a cleaner.
It has some heavy moments but is often comical. Because of the ML's wealth, the world around him largely accomodates his mysophobia until things begin to change.
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7. He is Psychometric
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
Follows Lee An who, ever since his parents died, can see the memories of people and objects by touching them. Don't want to spoil, but mental health is significant in this.
This series gets darker and darker as it progresses. The acting is just excellent. It's fantastical, so it's pretty melodramatic.
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8. Good Doctor
Korean Drama - 2013, 20 episodes
Follows an autistic pediatrician as he tries to navigate his role, newly qualified, at the hospital. He is excellent at the medical side of his job but struggles with the interpersonal skills needed for some of the other sides of his job.
I really like how it follows his struggles sympathetically while giving space for difficulties faced by his colleagues who struggle to understand him. It is a really great series, honestly couldn't recommend more.