Reality TV has become an entertainment staple, allowing viewers unfettered access into other people’s lives - including their struggles with mental health. Shows on networks like Bravo and MTV attempt to portray examples of therapy and people dealing with their well-being. But how accurate are these scenes? Do they really help people better understand mental health?
This panel will explore the reality of mental health on reality TV. We’ll discuss how these shows can reduce or add to stigma, whether mental health topics should be part of a narrative arc and how they can prompt viewers to seek mental health help. And given recent the deaths by suicide of former reality stars, we’ll also have an important discussion about how appearing on reality shows can affect mental health.