TEEN & YOUNG ADULT MENTAL HEALTH Edition Exercises
Emotional Growth & Identity Formation
(PG, 2015) — When 11-year-old Riley moves to a new city, her emotions—Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust—struggle for control, revealing how every feeling has value in building emotional resilience and self-understanding.
(PG, 2024) — As teenager Riley enters puberty, her once-familiar emotions are joined by newcomers like Anxiety, Envy, and Embarrassment, forcing her to navigate the chaos of growing up and redefining who she is.
Anxiety / Depression / Self-Harm
(PG-13, 2010) — A high-schooler checks himself into a psych ward for suicidal thoughts, finding hope among others struggling to overcome various mental health conditions.
(R, 2011) — On the eve of a planet’s collision with Earth, a woman battles major depressive disorder.
(R, 2001) — A Harvard student’s struggle with major depression and medication dependence mirrors the early Prozac era’s ambivalence about pharmaceutical treatment.
(PG-13, 2002) — Three women across time battle depression and suicidal ideation, connecting through Virginia Woolf’s novel Mrs. Dalloway and shared existential suffering.
(R, 2016) — A socially awkward teen struggles with loneliness and betrayal after her best friend starts dating her older brother, leading her to confront insecurity, depression, and the universal pain of growing up.
(PG-13, 2012) — A shy high-school freshman finds friendship and belonging with a group of older misfits while secretly battling trauma from his past, ultimately learning the healing power of connection and honesty.
(NR, 2021) — A young woman with a history of self-harm battles intrusive self-critical thoughts, exploring trauma recovery and self-compassion.
Abuse / Grief / Trauma / Survival
(PG-13, 2002) — A young sailor with violent outbursts begins therapy and confronts his childhood abuse and abandonment, exploring trauma recovery and self-worth.
(R, 2016) — A man haunted by past tragedy returns home to care for his nephew, facing debilitating grief, guilt, and suicidal rumination.
(R, 2016) — Across three acts, a young man’s identity is shaped by abuse, neglect, and unspoken desire, exploring trauma, emotional isolation, and depression.
Bipolar Disorder
(R, 2014) — A father with bipolar disorder struggles to care for his daughters while managing manic episodes, showing resilience amid instability.
(R, 2012) — A man with bipolar disorder rebuilds his life through dance and connection, examining recovery, stigma, and the role of love in stability.
OCD / BPD / Delusional Disorders / Schizophrenia
(R, 1999) — A young woman’s stay in a psychiatric hospital exposes the blurred lines between sanity and illness.
(PG-13, 2024) — A teen with obsessive-compulsive disorder wrestles with intrusive thoughts and contamination fears.
(PG-13, 2020) — A teen with schizophrenia hides his diagnosis while navigating school and love, illustrating psychosis, anxiety, and social stigma.