Stevie: Mental Illness in Pop Culture

Mental Illness in Pop Culture

In this series, we focus on pop culture portrayals of mental health issues and professional helping, believing that media both reflect and influence popular perception. This episode centers around Stevie, who when growing up participated in the Big Brothers / Big Sisters program with documentarian Steve James. The documentary focuses on Stevie's renewed adult relationship with Steve James as well as Stevie's relationship with family members, friends, and girlfriend. Throughout the film, as Stevie and his support circle await his consequences for being charged with a sexual offense, we see juxtapositions of Stevie's backstory intertwined with his current relationships and lifestyle, all framed in a context of rural values, family, and poverty. We also discuss some of our professional experiences working with court-mandated clients as well as rural Southern Illinois culture.