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Mental

(Rated TV-14, Drama, Starring Annabella Sciorra, Chris Vance, Jacqueline McKenzie, Where to watch: Fox, DVD, Online)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 14.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Soapy but thoughtful drama looks at mysteries of the mind.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–17

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The series looks at mental illness from a compassionate and illuminating point of view, though Dr. Gallagher sometimes employs illegal tactics to help a patient. One doctor is cheating on her husband. Tthe characters are from various racial/ethnic backgrounds; one is gay.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Some patients get violent when they become delusional and yell, scream, and throw furniture at those trying to subdue them. Others imagine killing themselves or hurting others; bloody images of these dreams are often shown.

  • Sex:

    Some strong sexual innuendo, plus scenes of doctors kissing and fondling each other's bottoms, as well as delusional patients imagining that they're enjoying a sexual escapade. In one episode, Dr. Gallagher takes off his clothes to help calm a delusional patient (no nudity is shown).

  • Language:

    Audible language includes words like “hell," “damn,” and “piss off."

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    References to drug and alcohol addiction throughout the show, but these discussions are usually offered in a medical context. There are also lots of discussions about drug "cocktails" for patients. The hospital staff is sometimes shown drinking at home (beer) or socially (wine, mixed drinks).
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Mental

Parents need to know that this medical drama explores a wide variety of mental illness. Its approach is nonjudgmental and informative, but some of the subject matter -- and the effects used to highlight patients' delusions -- may upset some viewers. The main character sometimes uses far-fetched and/or illegal tactics to help patients; characters are also involved in soap opera-esque storylines involving romance, friendship, and infidelity. There are discussions related to alcohol and drug abuse, but most actual drinking is done by adults in a limited social context. Expect some salty language of the "hell" and "damn" variety.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how the media depicts the mentally ill. Why are people with mental illnesses often shown on TV shows or in movies as being funny or violent? Do shows like this one contradict these stereotypes or reinforce them? Families can also discuss how societies have looked at mental illness over the centuries. Did you know that in some cultures, people who suffered from illness-related delusions were often seen as god-like creatures, while other cultures burned people with mental illnesses as witches? How does historic context impact the way we think about the mentally ill today?
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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Parent Reviewer
    rmichelle85
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 1.0

    piss

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Parent Reviewer
    TBF
    Lives in Kentucky
    I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it 1.0

    i hated this show

    i think kids should not watch this and adults shouldnt either my kids are no longer alowed to watch this

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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