A brief exploratory synthesis of portrayal of mental health issues in the script and characters of TV series Wallander (Swedish Version)

Abstract

Introduction

The modern Swedish crime drama series Wallander by Henning Mankell presents a good portrayal of mental health issues in 21^st century post modern world, including the contribution of biological, psychological and social issues in predisposing, perpetuating and maintaining them.

Aim

The aim of the exploratory synthesis is to study the characters in Wallander focusing on the portrayal of their mental health with a view on formulating biological, psychological and social factors that play a role in their development. Furthermore, mental health is reviewed in first world culture acclimatizing itself to the themes emerging from post-modern globalised world.

Method

The episodes of Wallander (Swedish Version) are reviewed focusing on the characters and the plots for each episode matching them with mental health diagnoses offered in International classification of diseases.

Discussion

The results are collated and a general commentary is offered on the observations and motifs revealed in the portrayal. The focus will be on individual character formulations (both recurring main characters as well other side characters). In addition, there is a commentary on contributing to mental health problems in a post-modern industrial society.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.