The world of cinema often portrays characters with mental illnesses in a negative light by showcasing poor portrayals. Films like Filth defy reality for the sake of entertainment, and often lack the authenticity needed to accurately depict modern struggles with mental illness. While mainstream movies like Silver Linings Playbook or Shutter Island lightly touch upon this subject, Filth stands out because it delves into the substance abuse associated with mental illness, that is often overlooked. The movie centers around a detective sergeant named Bruce Robertson, who is diagnosed with bipolar disorder and portrayed brilliantly by James McAvoy.

Apart from the main plot, Bruce struggles with a traumatic experience where he may have accidentally killed his brother in his youth due to envy. Furthermore, the manic episode fueled by cocaine and alcohol that is showcased in the movie is an accurate representation of how bipolar disorder manifests in individuals. The movie portrays a powerful message as to how a person with bipolar disorder would act if substance abuse is a major contributing factor in their daily lives.

Despite being a comedy/crime flick, Filth does a great job of depicting the highs and lows experienced by an individual with Bipolar 1 Disorder and Dissociative Identity Disorder (D.I.D). The manic and depressive episodes in the movie portray how individuals dealing with bipolar disorder struggle to manage it, and often end up needing to seek help at a mental institution or succumb to suicide.

Unfortunately, the media's over-glamorised coverage of bipolar disorder often associates it with violence. Research conducted by NAMI indicates that 40% of the general public believe bipolar disorder is dangerous, while 21% said they would feel uncomfortable confronting someone with the illness. These exaggerated portrayals are not accurate, and they affect the way people perceive individuals with mental illnesses. While Filth does a great job of portraying the realities of bipolar disorder, it still conforms to the media's stereotypical outlook.

In conclusion, films that deal with mental illness should devote more time to the accurate portrayal of specific conditions. It's up to the film industry to reflect and accurately address the nuances of mental illness, in particular, bipolar disorder. While films like Filth provide an accurate depiction, it is still necessary to sensitize the audience, and raise awareness about mental health issues.

In essence, bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes individuals to experience a range of moods that are notably different from their usual emotional state for varying periods of time. Depending on the specific type of bipolar disorder, these harsh mood swings may take the form of short or extended episodes of extreme happiness and energy, or episodes of grave sadness and despair. This disorder is found to be relatively common in the US, with “2.8% of US adults experiencing bipolar disorder in the last year [2021] (Miasnikov).” Treatments for bipolar disorder have steadily improved, as clinicians can now tailor medication based on the patient’s symptoms. Patients are typically prescribed antipsychotic or antidepressant medication. In the past, the only drug treatment initially available was lithium salts, as described in the film 'Filth,' which was used until the mid-1990s, before the anti-manic efficacy of valproate was discovered (López-Muñoz, Francisco, et al.). Overall, when films, television shows, or books facilitate open discussions about topics like bipolar disorder, it is a step towards meeting the end goal of the film in a humorous yet insightful and profound way.

References:

Ciccarelli, Saundra K, J N. White, and Saundra K. Ciccarelli. Psychology. Boston, Mass: Pearson Learning Solutions, 2012.

Dome, P., Rihmer, Z., & Gonda, X. (2019). Suicide Risk in Bipolar Disorder: A Brief Review. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania), 55(8), 403. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina55080403

Keas, Richele. “Gaps Exist in Public’s Understanding Of Bipolar Disorder.” NAMI, Abbott Laboratories, https://www.nami.org/Press-Media/Press-Releases/1999/Gaps-Exist-In-Public-s-Understanding-Of-Bipolar-Di.

Machado-Vieira, Rodrigo et al. “The role of lithium in the treatment of bipolar disorder: convergent evidence for neurotrophic effects as a unifying hypothesis.” Bipolar disorders vol. 11 Suppl 2, Suppl 2 (2009): 92-109. doi:10.1111/j.1399-5618.2009.00714.x

Miasnikov, Cassandra. “Myths and Facts of Bipolar Disorder.” NAMI, https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/May-2021/Myths-and-Facts-of-Bipolar-Disorder.

Wills, Sharon M., and Jean M. Goodwin. “Recognizing Bipolar Illness in Patients with Dissociative Identity Disorder.” Dissociation: Progress in the Dissociative Disorders, vol. 9, no. 2, June 1996, pp. 104–109. EBSCOhost, ezproxy.canyons.edu:2055/login.aspx?direct=true&db=psyh&AN=1997-07014-003&site=ehost-live.