Substance Abuse. Police Brutality. Racial Discrimination. Mental Health. Climate Change. All current social issues that are prevalent in our society today. As more light is being shed on how damaging these issues are and what can be done to improve these things, it has become even more fundamental to educate ourselves and stay self aware because we cannot turn a blind eye to the problems going on in the world.
We need to fix not only how we view ourselves but the people around us. We need to learn how to be more empathetic and we need to learn how to help each other. Most importantly, we need to grow in how we think.
While there are many ways that we can educate ourselves thanks to the internet and its wonderful resources, here are 10 AMAZING shows and movies that can help break stigmas and educate you on what is going on in the world. You can click on the titles to watch the trailers.
This movie goes through the life of Ellen, a girl with anorexia and her battle towards achieving recovery. While eating disorders are often recognized amongst teens it is not often talked about in the media or even publicly. “In the United States, as many as 10 in 100 young women suffer from an eating disorder (AACAP, 2018)”.
If you are into alternate realities and futures filled with technology and AI roaming the world, this show is for you. Black mirror depicts what could happen when social media takes over our life, when people gain too much power, and what happens when we heavily rely on technology. It's an eye opening show that gets you to think about the future and changes that may need to be made.
This show follows the narrative of Hannah and Clay while focusing on the reality of teen suicide and mental health issues. A study done by ACOG showed that, “At least one in five youths aged 9–17 years currently has a diagnosable mental health disorder that causes some degree of impairment; one in 10 has a disorder that causes significant impairment” (ACOG 2017).
According to a study done by NAMI, Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-34 in the U.S. Watching this show will make you aware of an issue that is frequently overlooked.
A powerful movie that shows the heart wrenching effects of police brutality. The movie follows the narrative of Starr, a girl that lives in the best of both worlds until the death of her best friend shakes everything up. It shows that racism isn’t trivial and the world would be exceedingly better without it.
A deeply moving documentary that reveals the inside scoop of what work is like inside the U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. It showcases the harsh realities of America’s immigration system that we do not notice in our day-to-day lives.
A show that gives the inside taste of what being at an Ivy League college can be like for black students. The show tackles a host of topics such as bias, politics, activism, and social justice. Not only does it tackle racism, but it gives different perspectives on it.
Class Divisions, Abuse of Power, and Substance Abuse, all on a train? This dystopian show showcases what happens when people lose all power and control. Snowpiercer is a show with a really cool concept that may leave you questioning everything.
*The ratings on these shows range from PG-13 to TV-MA. Some of the content featured in these shows/movies can be very sensitive, triggering, and emotional. It's up to your discretion to decide to watch these shows/movies*
