Mental health being part of the central plot?

A

Arkena

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So im trying to weave a mental health theme, addictions etc theme throughout a book im working on.

But it seems to get in the way of the story, i was wondering of tying the mental health theme into the plot by depression fuelling someones descent to the dark side. But something about it just doesnt seem right or just seems like it is being awkwardly executed by me. Him recovering from depression and going towards the good side could have world changing implications as his powers become manifested. But putting mental health into such a position as potentially changing the balance of power seems somehow wrong or just unnatural.

I was wondering what peoples reaction is to this and these ideas?

Ty for honest feedback
 
I think it's great to want to write about mental health, but also underline what Cathbad said. However, if you're struggling with how it works in your story, it might be because you're making it too much of a focus, rather than a natural part of the character's development? Just a thought. :)
 
Basically, what everybody else has said. Research, research, research, use empathy, and have the character as someone who does a job, lives life, AND has a condition which affects them. The fact that I am xyz is just a part of my life; I still have to get up, shower, eat breakfast, and interact with my fellow sentient creatures - that kind of thing. And let the character grow as the story develops.
 
While I do admire your interest in bringing mental health to the fore in your story - An immediate question is around Depression 'fueling someone's descent to the darkside'. If you mean Darkside as in your character exhibits the below symptoms, then yes. If you mean Darkside as in going all Anakin, probably not.

As a gentle warning, there is thankfully an awakening in the community about Mental Health and the stigmas associated with it - Not least helped by several celebrities coming forward about their own struggles. MH issues don't make people bad (In fact, it makes them much more likely to become a victim)

Along with the importance of the above mentioned research - Writing about it can require a certain sensativity, or at least awareness of how you're coming across. Mental health issues can be a registered disability and, unless you're writing about the person from an unsympathetic POV (Which actually may, or may not be the character with MH issues own stigmas) then tread carefully in your terminolgy.

I want to (very) crudely illustrate that by recasting your post using... errr... paralysis instead.

But it seems to get in the way of the story, i was wondering of tying the disability theme into the plot by paralysis fuelling someones descent to the dark side. But something about it just doesnt seem right or just seems like it is being awkwardly executed by me. Him recovering from paralysis and going towards the good side could have world changing implications as his powers become manifested.

Are you saying the character isn't good because they're paralysed? Somehow, they're recovering and that means they're becoming a good person? Is that what you meant to say and communicate?

ALL THAT BEING SAID!

Done right it's fantastic stuff and should be written about more. I've written heros who have a disabilities, both physical and mental. I think it's important to show their stories aren't over when in some works, it may mean that character is carted off to the knackers yard...


Signs and Symptoms of depression as given by the Mental Health Foundation:
  • Tiredness and loss of energy.
  • Sadness that doesn’t go away.
  • Loss of self-confidence and self-esteem.
  • Difficulty concentrating.
  • Not being able to enjoy things that are usually pleasurable or interesting.
  • Feeling anxious all the time.
  • Avoiding other people, sometimes even your close friends.
  • Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.
  • Sleeping problems - difficulties in getting off to sleep or waking up much earlier than usual.
  • Very strong feelings of guilt or worthlessness.
  • Finding it hard to function at work/college/school.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Loss of sex drive and/or sexual problems.
  • Physical aches and pains.
  • Thinking about suicide and death.
  • Self-harm
 
I would have thought that depression would be about as likely to slow the character’s descent to full-on villainy as speed it, through self-doubt and inertia. That said, some very dynamic people have had depression (Churchill springs to mind). I could see someone deciding “Oh stuff it, let’s just be evil” through a kind of extreme disillusionment or despair, but that sounds like something different to me.

On a related note, I was wondering recently how to deal with a character who has lost memories, but not to standard amnesia (they’ve been “surgically” removed), especially in a fast-moving story that needed the memories to go but wasn’t going to be an “exploration” of that (a little like the first Bourne film). My thought would be that I wouldn’t have to depict the loss of the memories as literal amnesia, but the psychological effect of losing the memories would have to be treated convincingly, even if pretty briefly.
 
I like the idea of a superhero type character where the world hinges on their mental health and the decisions they make because of this. Just think it is an interesting idea with lots of opening for exploration if done well.

I'll start by saying don't be scared of the subject matter - we should never feel we are hamstrung for fear of offending or portraying others incorrectly. With that being said, and this depends entirely on the framework of the story, the above comments have focused on the individual themselves, but there is also the knock on effect to close family, the support structures that have to be put in to place to assist in managing their day to day lives and other various nuanced courses of behavior and action. All of these things will add a level of authenticity.

So it depends when you say mental health, are you referring to less severe forms of mental illness such as mild depression or to something more visible and obvious such as paranoid schizophrenia. Mental health is such a wide and diverse set of issues.

I think raising any sort of awareness of mental health issues for those with the problem and those around them can only be a good thing.

If you want any specific advice beyond "do your research and be authentic" then just ask. :)
 
Jo Zebedee said:
I write quite a bit about various characters in various states of mental unbalance. Research the hell out of it and use every ounce of empathy you have.
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Jo does a good job in writing mental health issues into her work, but I think part of her success is this:

Brian G Turner said:
However, if you're struggling with how it works in your story, it might be because you're making it too much of a focus, rather than a natural part of the character's development?
Click to expand...

Abernovo said:
have the character as someone who does a job, lives life, AND has a condition which affects them
Click to expand...

She doesn't make her work about mental health issues, but works it into the story naturally. I think this is key. I've been struggling with this in my own work; I have a character who has anxiety issues which triggers a panic attack, and although I hint at this in the first book, in the second I had to tread carefully so it worked with the plot rather that standing out on its own. Hopefully I succeeded!
 
I think it's absolutely critical. I have MH stuff in my life - most of us do either in ourselves or those we love. One in 4 people has a condition and they're all out there, coping as best they can, with families and food to make and, more often than not, work to manage.

It's such a broad spectrum of interaction. Write the character first - if they are real enough their MH issues will be a part of them, not their defining feature.
 
Whilst I agree in principle with what some others have said, don't feel you have to skirt around the issue itself.

I suppose this depends on whether the mental health issues/illness are a major part of the story or if they are just part of a character backdrop, if they are part of a characters context then I don't think skirting around them is a good idea. If they have issues, then they should be addressed in the text.

To add to what Jo said and to disagree with Jo as well, most people have some sort of mental health issue affect them or a loved one, but there are those whose mental health issues do define their life, it's unfortunate but it is a reality for those people. This is not to say they are a non entity without their mental health issues, just that their mental health issues have been a part of their character for so long it can become a defining factor.
 
Oh, absolutely - it defines you, having anything significant. But there are other aspects of life for most people (sadly, not always so for those worst affected). Everything the character does carries the inclusion of their mental illness - which comes back to the need to understand and know the character, and then the illness becomes a natural component of them.
 
Toby Frost said:
I would have thought that depression would be about as likely to slow the character’s descent to full-on villainy as speed it, through self-doubt and inertia. That said, some very dynamic people have had depression (Churchill springs to mind). I could see someone deciding “Oh stuff it, let’s just be evil” through a kind of extreme disillusionment or despair, but that sounds like something different to me.

On a related note, I was wondering recently how to deal with a character who has lost memories, but not to standard amnesia (they’ve been “surgically” removed), especially in a fast-moving story that needed the memories to go but wasn’t going to be an “exploration” of that (a little like the first Bourne film). My thought would be that I wouldn’t have to depict the loss of the memories as literal amnesia, but the psychological effect of losing the memories would have to be treated convincingly, even if pretty briefly.
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Didn’t a character in Fringe cut out some of his brain to hide something he had done from himself.
 
@Arkena, it seems like your senses are on the right track with your doubts on mental health portrayal, and indeed you should consider its facets carefully, but without fear. These internal imbalances can be ripe for conflict and character development, and many writers have used them well.

Concerning your comments on "dark side or good side" (and to be fair, when you say "dark side" I think you mean it as a low mood/functional moment, and not "being bad", but just in case and to cover all bases, I'll add this tangent) you might run into some disapproval if you give mental health issues clear-cut moral valences (as in: the character with MH issues is evil BECAUSE of his MH issues exclusively, but he becomes good if those issues are cured--this would directly associate a moral value to a health condition, which is a no-no). This can lend itself to the demonization of MH, which some readers could object to.

As a rule of thumb, I'd recommend that if someone with MH problems in your story is a baddie, look to it that MH isn't the only reason--it can still be a contributing factor in the character's perceptions and thought processes though. And of course, when I say evil, I'm referring to moral evil, which is a conscious decision. Grave MH problems can give rise to disturbing behaviours that have no intentionality behind them, thus not evil, making them accidents (ie, stabbing someone while on a state of hallucinating psychosis). I'm not saying to shy away from villains with MH issues, all I'm saying is that the depressed supervillain might still be a supervillain after taking his meds ;).
 
Toby Frost said:
I would have thought that depression would be about as likely to slow the character’s descent to full-on villainy as speed it, through self-doubt and inertia. That said, some very dynamic people have had depression (Churchill springs to mind). I could see someone deciding “Oh stuff it, let’s just be evil” through a kind of extreme disillusionment or despair, but that sounds like something different to me.
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^This. Speaking from experience, I'd find it wholly unbelievable that a depressive would be in any way able to fuel their Fall by depression. Or PTSD for that matter. I've had quite a lot of people express surprise - even shock - at my own condition when they find out, because I seem to operate so 'normally' on the surface, however it is an unending struggle for me to get through a day. Luckily my job is so wonderful it keeps me above water.

I think anger is a far better motivator for poor choices leading to a downfall. Of that I can certainly speak with authority (but it did feel good!)

pH
 
Writing a depressed character is hard; Solider Son series by Robin Hobb has a depressed lead character and the middle book draws out a lot and wasn't as popular as her other works. She writes a good depressed character in that it generally manifests itself in the character losing most will/energy to do much beyond the bare minimum in life.

And for a reader that's rather dull honestly. You end up with your lead character basically swept along by the tide of life around them; resulting in them being rather, well, not that aspiring to look up to.

I think its a balance between writing a character who basically gives up; with one who has so many choices taken away from them (which I would say is closer to Fitz from her Farseer series - though he's also famous for making some really bad - shout at the book - choices in life).


I think that whatever mental condition(s) you pick its important to research it in depth. I also think that you might find it easier to write if you make it clear to the reader that something is wrong; but you don't put a name to it. Names come with connections and different people will connect different meaning to labels. Eg most would expect a depressed character to be sad, crying etc... rather than closer to the lethargic aspects that often manifest for many people.
IT also means that your character is more unique; you're not trying to make them into a label. And its important to realise that nearly all generally understood names for mental conditions are only very generalist concepts and within each one there is a whole scale of reactions and degrees of influence it has over peoples lives.

I think researching real conditions and using them, but not using labels is a strong way forward unless you're writing a psychological medical angle book; whereupon you can more easily go into more depth on the subject as part of building up the background, world and situation.
 
After experiencing anxiety and depression a few years ago, I don't think I would write about a central character with mental health problems. This is most probably because I don't want to go there again (I consider myself in remission rather than cured), but also because when in that state, merely getting out of bed was a herculean task and surviving each day seemed miraculous. And on some days I didn't particularly want to survive.

Writing a story about a character in that state would, for me, be very difficult, as the entire world contracts to the inside of your head, so I don't know how that could fit with a wider storyline and I'm not sure readers would get a lot out of it. Plus, I write escapist fiction. The main character in my latest novel is dying, so he has his own demons to confront, but it's a more conventional story in that he remains mentally in control and is motivated to use the time he has left to perform a task.

I did co-write and produce a short film about a man with a mental health issue which was acclaimed for its accuracy, but ironically that was before my own experience!
 
Very dificult thing to include in a novel. Firstly to describe it accurately, how the individual feels about it and how others react. Because symptoms can often be subconcious, sometimes the last to realise or accept the condition can be the person themselves. I can imagine it being dificult to include mental health issues and for it not to become a focal point of your story.
 
paranoid marvin said:
Very dificult thing to include in a novel. Firstly to describe it accurately, how the individual feels about it and how others react. Because symptoms can often be subconcious, sometimes the last to realise or accept the condition can be the person themselves. I can imagine it being dificult to include mental health issues and for it not to become a focal point of your story.
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For the vast majority of people with MH issues it isn’t the focal point of their life story (but for those with significant disorders it is, and how hard it must be :(). In Waters and the Wild, Amy is not defined by her psychosis/fairy thoughts but challenged by them. And in Abendau, Kare remains very true to the character he was before MH issues took over. It’s about writing rounded characters where Mental illness is just one element.
 
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