Bipolar Disorder: Media Depictions and their Effects on Viewers’ Judgement

I’ve been on a binging spree of Shameless for the last few weeks, and as I make my way through the series, I’m finding many references to bipolar disorder in two characters: Monica (the main characters’ mother) and Ian (one of the main characters, an older teenager).

 

A (not so) Brief Overview of the Ways in which Bipolar Disorder is Depicted in Shameless :

 

In the beginning of the series, Monica is introduced as a woman struggling with bipolar disorder. It is a key point that her mental state plays a major role in her characterization in the show. Shameless depicts her in an episodic way – there are either extremely high “highs” or extremely low “lows” throughout the show – with the series mostly omitting moments where she is acting “normal.”

 

Monica’s bipolar leads to her becoming an absent mother. It is a central point that the

children dislike her because of this, but she returns when she’s back on her medication or when she is manic. Her behavior is the only real example of bipolar disorder that the family is exposed to, and as a result, the viewer has very little knowledge or education on the subject except for the distaste the characters hold for Monica.

 

Later in the series, Monica’s son Ian goes through a major breakup, which triggers a

manic episode in which he, similarly to Monica, disappears for a few months. When he returns, he quickly realizes that he had experienced a manic episode. His actions- including unprotected sex, drugs use, and other reckless behaviors, mirror the impulsivity that distinguishes manic episodes. Because Monica is the only other example of bipolar within the main characters’ lives, Ian finding out that he has the disorder negatively impacts him. Despite this, the two characters experience a type of bonding that none of the other children had ever experienced with Monica.

 

Though Ian’s treatment of bipolar was tumultuous, it eventually ends well. He is hospitalized after resisting for a period of time before beginning to take lithium. He eventually stabilizes and remains on his medication for the duration of the show. With this change in lifestyle, he stabilizes his life. His family ends up becoming truly supportive, with many scenes depicting how Ian is capable of many things, regardless of his diagnosis. He gets into successful relationships, starts a career, spends more time with family and friends, and stabilizes over time. Major plot points and conversations from his other siblings consist of them motivating him during rough times.

 

Social Connotations and how Shameless Mirrors Real Life:

 

One major characteristic of the environment in Shameless is the intensity of the stigma

within the community for “taboo” subjects – queerness, mental health, gender and racial issues, gentrification, and other topics (Johnson). I think the show tries to take a hands-on approach to these real-world issues, especially for treatments for bipolar in lower-class urban areas (Johnson). Shameless’s setting plays a major factor in influencing Ian’s experiences with his treatment and from others. Discussing these subjects in the show as major plot points helps truly show realistic approaches to these problems.

 

The media’s representation of mental illness inevitably leaves an impression on their audiences and the general population. Research shows that media depictions of mental illness, whether from social media, television shows, movies, books, and more may influence public perceptions on such issues (Budenz, Favre). Introducing a likable character such as Ian in the show and then developing his bipolar over time allows the audience to form a relationship with him and empathize a great amount (Wong). Portrayals of mental illness (in this case, bipolar disorder) help reduce negative stereotypes surrounding the illness. It also reduces the perceived social distance surrounding people of different social classes (Wong). By creating a sense of relatability with a character with bipolar, this distancing is reduced (Wong). Shameless depicts a lot of nuances with Ian and his bipolar, showing him as just another normal person and not this character that is either inherently good or bad (Johnson). Shameless helps disassemble stereotypes about bipolar through its distinct interpretations of the disorder in  two separate characters, showing that having bipolar is not a monolith. The ways in which Shameless depicts the discrimination against individuals with the bipolar experience, such as Ian being refused a job at one point because of his disorder, help viewers empathize and understand the social struggles of the disorder.

 

In conclusion, I think Shameless has many positives and negatives in the way it depicts

bipolar disorder. I think this is a really key concept to the show because it is seen that bipolar disorder experiences a higher level of stigma than many other mental health issues (Budenz). Throughout the earlier seasons of the show, I think the depiction of bipolar through Monica carries many stereotypes and flaws, but I think the development of Ian’s character and how bipolar disorder is depicted in him shows true progress in the public’s perception of the disorder. I think the perception of bipolar with the media and the audience is created in a loop – the perception of the creators of media impacts the media being created, which then impacts the audience’s perceptions, which again feeds into the public’s perceptions. This cycle that we see helps show the evolution of media and the public’s perceptions over time, and how progress is seen consistently through the entire population.

 

Works Cited

Budenz, A., Klassen, A., Purtle, J., Yom Tov, E., Yudell, M., & Massey, P. (2019). Mental

illness and bipolar disorder on Twitter: implications for stigma and social support. Journal of

Mental Health, 29(2), 191–199. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2019.1677878

Favre, S., Aubry, J.-M., & Richard-Lepouriel, H. (2022). Perceived public stigma and

perceived public exposure by persons living with bipolar disorder: A qualitative

study. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 69(2), 002076402210934.

https://doi.org/10.1177/00207640221093495

Johnson, M. A., & Olson, C. J. (2021). Normalizing mental illness and neurodiversity in

entertainment media : quieting the madness. Routledge.

Wong, N. C. H., Lookadoo, K. L., & Nisbett, G. S. (2017). “I’m Demi and I Have Bipolar

Disorder”: Effect of Parasocial Contact on Reducing Stigma Toward People With Bipolar

Disorder. Communication Studies, 68(3), 314–333.

https://doi.org/10.1080/10510974.2017.1331928