Scripted

In 2025, the French government declared mental health a grande cause nationale, underscoring its status as a central societal concern. As Le Figaro’s TV Magazine has noted, television is emerging as one of the most powerful mediums to address the issue, offering stories that replace stigma with empathy, depth, and emotional authenticity.

A Long Road from Taboo to Empathy
For decades, mental illness in TV dramas was treated through caricature and fear. The Sopranos (1999) and Homeland (2011) were early milestones, introducing audiences to protagonists grappling with panic attacks and bipolar disorder. Since then, titles such as Euphoria, En thérapie, I May Destroy You, 13 Reasons Why, BoJack Horseman, and The Haunting of Hill House have expanded the range of conditions explored on screen, from trauma and addiction to depression and anxiety.As psychiatrist Édouard Zarifian observed — quoted in Le Figaro: “The mirror that series hold up helps us reinvent a new face for madness.”

Euphoria: Global Phenomenon
HBO’s Euphoria, with Zendaya in the role of Rue Bennett, has become a cultural landmark. As reported by Le Figaro, the series explores substance abuse, suicidal ideation, self-harm, and gender dysphoria with unflinching honesty. Zendaya herself recently admitted, in an interview highlighted by French media, that portraying Rue is a daunting responsibility: “What matters most to me is to do right by the viewers who love and care about Rue, and to make sure we take care of her as a character. I think that’s my duty.” After a long hiatus since Season 2 (2022), production on Season 3 is scheduled to begin in January 2025, a return eagerly awaited by millions worldwide.

Empathie: Séries Mania’s Breakthrough
Quebec’s Empathie has been hailed as one of the most remarkable recent works on mental health. Presented at Séries Mania 2025, the series created, written, and performed by Florence Longpré received a standing ovation in Lille, with audiences moved to both laughter and tears (Le Parisien / TV Magazine, Sept. 1).
Set in the psychiatric wing of Montreal’s Mont-Royal prison, the 10-part tragicomedy follows Suzanne Bien-Aimé, a criminologist and physician played by Longpré, whose professional dedication contrasts with her personal struggles. Alongside Thomas Ngijol, she brings a delicate balance of humor and tragedy.
Longpré explained her process in Le Figaro: “I started writing about a psychopathic character, but little by little, other figures came into my head and onto the page. And I fell in love with my mad ones. Madness isn’t often talked about. Maybe because it hides inside all of us, and it terrifies us when it surfaces. Perhaps empathy is the key — it saves us from the fear of others and of ourselves.”

Canadian Stories of Resilience: Mother of Mine and Son of Mine
The Canadian market has also contributed powerfully to this new wave of storytelling, with two recent series placing mental health at the heart of family drama.
Mother of Mine (6x60’) follows Chantal, 58, who is released from prison after a fraud conviction and diagnosed with bipolar disorder. At a crossroads, she struggles to rebuild her life and repair broken family ties, particularly with her estranged daughter Valérie. The series explores themes of vulnerability, therapy, long-term recovery, and the possibility of reconciliation.
Son of Mine (6x60’) tells the story of Jacob, an 18-year-old student whose life is upended by psychosis. His journey, marked by relapses and setbacks, is also defined by resilience and the instinct to recover. The show offers a raw and emotional exploration of youth, illness, and the fight to reclaim one’s future.
Both dramas, intimate and emotional, underline the resilience required to live with mental illness while also showing the profound impact on families — making them essential companions to the global trend of empathetic television.

Mental health is no longer a taboo or a plot device for shock value — it is treated as a universal human issue, demanding nuance, empathy, and truth.
In the words of Le Figaro, these dramas “renew the imagination attached to mental disorders and finally sweep away caricatures.” They resonate not just as entertainment, but as cultural touchstones that can help society understand, heal, and connect.