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Parents' Guide to

Mental

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Soapy but thoughtful drama looks at mysteries of the mind.

TV Fox Drama 2009
Mental Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 10+

Based on 2 parent reviews

rmichelle85
rmichelle85 Parent of 2, 3, 10 and 12-year-old
June 14, 2009
age 2+
piss
TBF
TBF Parent of 5, 7 and 13-year-old
June 11, 2009
age 17+

i hated this show

i think kids should not watch this and adults shouldnt either my kids are no longer alowed to watch this
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

MENTAL follows psychiatrist Jack Gallagher (Chris Vance) in his new position as the director of Psychiatric Services at Los Angeles' Wharton Memorial Hospital. While searching for creative ways to help people dealing with a wide array of syndromes, the dedicated doc often finds himself at odds with his boss, hospital administrator/former flame Nora Skoff (Annabella Sciorra). And then there's the drama brought on by his colleagues -- including resentful Drs. Veronica Hayden-Jones (Jacqueline McKenzie) and Carl Belle (Derek Webster) -- and the younger medical professionals who need mentoring, like nurse Malcolm D. Washington (Edwin Hodge) and residents Arturo Suarez (Nicholas Gonzalez) and Chloe Artis (Marisa Ramirez). As he strives to help his patients, inspire his staff, and deal with annoying administrative responsibilities, the quirky Gallagher also quietly holds on to the hope that he'll somehow find his mentally ill sister.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Mental demystifies mental illness by showing it through the eyes of both the doctors and the patients. It explores the featured disorders in a way that's informative and revealing rather than tragic or sinister. It also highlights the existing tensions in the medical community, which is still full of conflict about the appropriate way to treat patients who suffer from these kinds of afflictions and help them reclaim their lives.

Although the show is open-minded and compassionate, it relies on some so-so dramatics to keep the stories going. Some of Gallagher's treatment tactics are a little far-fetched, and some of the special effects meant to help viewers "see" patients' delusions are a bit over-the-top. And like most medical dramas, Mental intertwines the patients' stories with the staff's romantic and personal relationships. Still, in the end, Mental offers thoughtful -- if not thought-provoking -- entertainment.

Talk to Your Kids 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?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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