Does Mr. Robot set a new precedent for how experiences of mental health disorders should be portrayed in the media, and if so, why?
**Spoiler warning**
The TV show Mr. Robot follows cybersecurity engineer and hacker Elliot Alderson being recruited by Mr. Robot to a group of hacktivists. This group aims to destroy all debt records by targeting the conglomerate E Corp.
Elliot’s mental health is a focus of the show, with the audience seeing him experience symptoms of social anxiety disorder, chronic depression, delusions, paranoia, substance use, and dissociative identity disorder (DID). The latter is revealed in a plot twist where Mr. Robot is shown to have been an alternative personality of Elliot’s all along.
This is similar to what happens in the 1999 film Fight Club. There are scenes of Elliot showcasing antisocial behaviour, crying, attending therapy, as well as amnesia and a grappling for control between aspects of his personality (also like the TV show Moon Knight (2022) and film Split (2016)).
Portrayals of mental health problems in the media, especially DID, (e.g., in the films Psycho (1960) and Split (2016), and the TV show United States of Tara (2009-2011)), have often been criticised as stereotypical and misleading. Mr. Robot however has been hailed as a realistic, respectful1, accurate, and empathic2 depiction of what it’s like to experience this misunderstood3 disorder, alongside Elliot’s comorbid symptoms.
Some of the reasons why this show seemingly portrays mental health in a more realistic way might be a result of the creator using his own lived experiences4, or the fact that a psychiatrist5 consulted with the cast and production throughout. Other reasons it “nails depictions”5 of mental health problems are that although Elliot’s mental health is relevant to the plot, it is not a primary plot device. In previous examples, DID has been used for horror or suspense purposes6 with characters being feared, apprehended, or miraculously cured. In Mr. Robot, Elliot’s fragile and troubled life is presented as one that audiences can empathise and struggle alongside with6; there is no overdramatization, payoff, or supernatural depiction. In turn, this brings attention and education to audiences without experience of mental health symptoms, and authenticity and relatability to those with experiences of mental health symptoms.
In addition, Mr. Robot uses different actors to portray Elliot’s different personalities, unlike the previously mentioned other examples in the media. In this way, the audience experiences Elliot’s symptoms alongside him, gaining a first-hand perspective.
For some therefore, Mr. Robot “offers the most accurate, sensitive portrayal of mental illness6” in recent media. Fans have found a “kindred spirit in Elliot”1 and praise5 the authentic, relatable, “unapologetic and real”6 depiction of his mental health problems.
This show, including for the reasons outlined above, could be setting a “new standard for depictions of mental illness5”, as one where mental health is relevant to the plot but isn’t exploitative, unrealistic, and misrepresentative.
