Strong or Silenced? The Under-representation of Mental Health Problems in Ambridge's Women

Abstract

This chapter will argue that the representation of mental illness in The Archers is unrepresentative in a number of ways. Sufferers of long-term mental health problems are not portrayed in the programme and mental illness is often used as a narrative device, leading to a bias towards circumstantial, single-episode mental ill health storylines. This chapter will also cover the portrayal of Helen Archer’s mental health during and after suffering emotional and physical abuse at the hands of her ex-husband, arguing that it suffers from a number of shortcomings.

Citation

Campion, E. (2019), "Strong or Silenced? The Under-representation of Mental Health Problems in Ambridge's Women", Courage, C. and Headlam, N. (Ed.) Gender, Sex and Gossip in Ambridge, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 131-140. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-78769-945-820191015