Earlier this month, I sat in a theater with my teenage kids watching the latest Marvel film, “Thunderbolts.” As fans of most Marvel movies, we expected action and entertainment; what we didn’t expect was a masterclass in emotional honesty. The film’s antiheroes find their strength not through superpowers, but through vulnerability, connection, and mutual support.
The themes in “Thunderbolts” – depression, grief, and healing through relationships –are not new. Just a few years ago, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a report titled “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation,” which stressed the health benefits of community and social connection. But the difference in reach between a Hollywood blockbuster and a government report is massive. And because of its cultural relevance and impactful storytelling, the movie is more likely to spark understanding and discussion – because while data informs, stories transform.
The Power of Storytelling in Mental Health Advocacy
Mental Health Awareness Month is a time for reflection and action. But despite increased visibility, traditional public health messaging often falls short in engaging the public and inspiring change. Reports and statistics are crucial, but they rarely move people to action. Too often, people working in scientific fields equate expertise with effectiveness. But knowing the facts is not the same as helping the public understand them. Being right is important, but it’s not enough.
“Thunderbolts” offers a different approach. By portraying characters who openly grapple with their mental health challenges, the film invites audiences to empathize and reflect. This is the essence of narrative transportation – individuals become immersed in a story, leading to increased empathy and reduced resistance to new ideas.
Research indicates that narratives can be more effective than factual arguments in changing attitudes and behaviors. A study published in Frontiers in Communication found that narratives are persuasive because they are easier to understand and can significantly impact an individual’s attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.
Learning from Hollywood: Integrating Public Health into Storylines
Public health has often lagged healthcare in leveraging storytelling. Medical dramas like “ER” and “Grey’s Anatomy” have successfully incorporated health issues into their narratives, sometimes in collaboration with health organizations. “ER,” which was on the air from 1994 to 2009, was a cultural touchstone for health literacy, addressing topics like HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, mental health, domestic violence, substance use and addiction, and health disparities. A 2019 episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” that addressed sexual assault heightened public awareness and led to a significant increase in calls to the hotline for RAINN (the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network).
It’s easier to find examples from medicine than from public health, which is why “Thunderbolts” (and before that, “Inside Out”) stands out as rare and impactful. Media partnerships have the potential to spark conversations about these issues, and those opportunities are not limited to Hollywood movies.
Strategies for Public Health Communicators
Not every organization can partner with a Hollywood studio, but there are many ways to harness the power of storytelling:
- Collaborate with media: Engage with local journalists, filmmakers, and content creators to share compelling stories from your community.
- Train staff, board members, and partners in storytelling techniques. Equip your team with storytelling skills to convey messages more effectively.
- Highlight personal stories. Share narratives that humanize data, making abstract issues relatable and urgent.
- Use multiple platforms. Videos, social media, podcasts, and community events are just some of the ways your stories can reach broad and targeted audiences.
Reframing Health Communication
“Thunderbolts” is more than entertainment; it’s a blueprint for how we can improve communication and outreach about mental health. By sharing stories of struggle and resilience, we can foster a culture that values openness and support.
It’s time for health advocates to move beyond the status quo and embrace storytelling not as an add-on, but as a central strategy for improving mental health.