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This webinar explores the themes of her new book Male Mental Illness in Contemporary Culture (2025), which examines how male mental illness and suicide are represented across contemporary film, television, and literature. Drawing on cultural narratives, Dr Christina Wilkins argues that men’s experiences of mental illness are shaped by gendered expectations, and that portrayals of suicide often prioritise explanation over empathy, focusing on the “why” rather than the lived, experiential reality.
The session will consider how these narratives can reinforce hegemonic ideals of masculinity and limit our collective ability to engage compassionately with male mental health. In doing so, it invites critical reflection on how culture influences public understanding, stigma, and policy responses to men’s mental illness and suicide.
Christina is a researcher in contemporary film, television and literature with a specialism in adaptations and mental health. She has published books in adaptation studies, including Authenticity and Adaptation (2025) and her most recent book, Male Mental Illness in Contemporary Culture (2025).
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