Beyond the Aesthetic: The Harmful Romanization of Mental Illness in Media

Over the past decade, mental health has become a more frequent topic in pop culture, social media, and everyday conversation. Celebrities speak out about their struggles, films and TV series feature characters grappling with trauma, and influencers share raw, emotional stories with millions of followers. On the surface, this appears to be progress—destigmatizing mental illness and encouraging vulnerability.

But as awareness has grown, so has a quieter, more insidious trend: the romanization and glorification of mental illness.

This trend, often fueled by aesthetic-driven content and emotionally charged storytelling, presents mental health struggles not as complex medical or emotional realities, but as beautiful, mysterious, or even enviable traits. The result? Misrepresentation, misunderstanding, and—most concerningly—a normalization of suffering.

What Is Romanization?

Romanization (also called glorification) is when media portrays mental illness in an idealized or poetic way. Rather than showing the reality of depression, anxiety, or trauma, it paints these experiences in soft lighting, metaphor-heavy monologues, and “tragically beautiful” visuals.

You’ve probably seen it:

• A film character staring out a rain-drenched window, lost in existential thought, presented as deep and desirable rather than someone possibly enduring severe depression.

• A social media post of someone crying with mascara running and a caption like “this is what anxiety looks like”, stylized to fit a moody aesthetic.

• TikTok videos edited with slow-motion effects and sad music to depict self-harm, breakdowns, or dissociation, often lacking any resources, context, or content warnings.

While this content may be created with good intentions—perhaps as an attempt to express pain or foster connection—it often fails to show the true scope of these experiences. Worse, it can contribute to harmful narratives, especially among younger audiences.

The Real-World Consequences

Mental health conditions are serious. They are not a phase, a personality trait, or a trend. But the way they’re presented in popular culture can have a powerful impact on how people understand them—and how they view themselves.

1. It trivializes serious issues.

Turning mental illness into an aesthetic flattens the pain, confusion, and real-life consequences into something more digestible and “shareable.” This risks diminishing the very real suffering people endure daily.

2. It discourages recovery.

Some people—especially teens and young adults—may begin to associate their mental health struggles with identity or creativity. If depression is seen as “deep” or anxiety as “relatable content,” getting better might feel like losing a part of yourself.

3. It can be triggering.

Content that includes graphic portrayals of self-harm, suicidal ideation, or emotional breakdowns without context or warnings can trigger viewers who are already vulnerable. This can deepen feelings of isolation or even encourage harmful behaviors.

4. It creates pressure to perform pain.

With social media often rewarding emotional vulnerability with likes and shares, there can be pressure to present one’s mental health struggles in a certain way—to be “palatably broken” rather than authentically struggling. This performative vulnerability can feel inauthentic or invalidating to those suffering in silence.

Why Does This Happen?

Mental illness is often misunderstood. For creators, expressing pain through art or storytelling can be a way of processing or reaching others. The issue isn’t always malicious—it’s sometimes the result of trying to make suffering feel less lonely or more relatable.

But media thrives on emotion, and when pain becomes profitable—when posts about breakdowns trend faster than those about healing—there’s a risk of incentivizing struggle without acknowledging the importance of support, treatment, and recovery.

How to Consume and Share Mental Health Content Responsibly

The solution isn’t to stop talking about mental health. Quite the opposite. We need to talk more—but with care, honesty, and responsibility. Here are a few ways to shift the narrative:

• Critically evaluate what you consume. Ask yourself: Is this content raising awareness or romanticizing pain? Does it include helpful information, context, or resources?

• Use content warnings. If you share personal struggles online, consider including a warning for others who may be triggered.

• Normalize the less “aesthetic” sides of healing. Therapy appointments, medication, messy setbacks, awkward conversations—these are all part of the process and deserve space too.

• Avoid using mental health labels casually. Phrases like “I’m so OCD” or “that gave me PTSD” when used incorrectly can trivialize real conditions.

• Prioritize recovery and growth. It’s okay to share your pain, but also share how you’re coping, growing, or seeking help. Remind others (and yourself) that healing is possible—and valuable.

  
  

In Conclusion

Mental health should never be treated like a trend. The more we portray it honestly—in all its pain, confusion, beauty, and resilience—the more we create space for real conversations and real support.

Representation matters, but responsible representation matters more.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that help is out there. You are not alone.

Resources:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988

• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

• SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): www.nami.org