Mental Health and Wellbeing

How films like ‘Joker’ just keep spreading mental health stigma

So Todd Phillips’ latest movie Joker has arrived in cinemas and, predictably, opinion is divided.

Some don’t have a bad word to say about it, with many arguing that it’s fuelling much-needed conversations about how society treats the mentally ill; others counter that it merely reinforces mental health stigma and damaging stereotypes, ones that the film industry has been perpetuating for years. And honestly? I’m in the latter group. Here’s why.