10 Must Watch Documentaries Addressing Mental Health

4 min readJun 10, 2024

Mental health struggles are something everyone faces at some point in their life, no matter their background, class or gender. With so many different mental health issues diagnosed everyday, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed or uneducated around the topic. Fortunately, many filmmakers have set out to document stories revolving around mental health, serving to inform and open discussion around issues such as anorexia, schizophrenia or suicide.

From singer Selena Gomez’ mental health struggles to actor Robin Williams’ unfortunate suicide, many stories have been put to screen to promote discourse around mental health.

The Devil and Daniel Johnston (2005)

Daniel Johnston, manic-depressive genius singer/songwriter/artist is revealed in this portrait of madness, creativity and love.

Runtime: 1hr 50 | Genre: Documentary/Biography/Music

RT: 88%

Letterboxd: 4.1/5

IMDB: 7.9

Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind (2018)

An intimate look into the life and work of the revered master comedian and actor, Robin Williams.

Runtime: 1h 57 | Genre: Documentary/Biography/Comedy

RT: 94%

Letterboxd: 3.9

IMDB: 7.9

Boy Interrupted (2009)

Filmmaker Dana Perry documents the life of her son, Evan, a 15-year-old who committed suicide.

Runtime: 1h 32 | Genre: Documentary/Biography/Drama

RT: 89%

Letterboxd: 3.8/5

IMDB: 7.8

Wildcat (2022)

Back from war in Afghanistan, a young British soldier struggling with depression and PTSD finds a second chance in the Amazon rainforest when he meets an American scientist, and together they foster an orphaned baby ocelot.

Runtime: 1hr 46 | Genre: Documentary

RT: 92%

Letterboxd: 3.7/5

IMDB: 7.7

Stutz (2022)

Follow Hill and his therapist as he has candid discussions of mental health and the progressively worsening anxiety attacks related to movie promotion that have turned his dream job into a nightmare.

Runtime: 1hr 36 | Genre: Documentary

RT: 96%

Letterboxd: 3.7

IMDB: 7.8

Thin (2006)

The story of four women suffering from anorexia and bulimia in South Florida.

Runtime: 1hr 42 | Genre: Documentary

RT: 100%

Letterboxd: 3.6/5

IMDB: 7.4

32 Pills: My Sister’s Suicide (2017)

She’s beautiful, artistic, loved and can’t stand to be alive. 32 PILLS traces the fascinating life and mental illness of my sister, New York artist and photographer Ruth Litoff, and my struggle to come to terms with her tragic suicide.

Runtime: 1hr 29 | Genre: Documentary/Biography/Family

RT: 100%

Letterboxd: 3.4

IMDB: 6.3

Selena Gomez: My Mind And Me (2022)

After years in the limelight, Selena Gomez has achieved unimaginable stardom. But just as she reaches a new peak, an unexpected turn pulls her into darkness.

Runtime: 1hr 35 | Genre: Documentary/Biography/Music

RT: 97%

Letterboxd: 3.6

IMDB: 7.4