Library / Living With Mental Illness
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Girl, Interrupted
The most exciting girl on the ward was also the one who'd never get out. Getting better meant choosing a different story. #GirlInterrupted
Who it's for
Girl, Interrupted follows 18-year-old Susanna through a stay in a 1960s psychiatric hospital after an apparent suicide attempt, and it takes her confusion about herself and her diagnosis seriously.
Feelings it meets
What it is
Adapted from Susanna Kaysen's 1993 memoir, James Mangold's film is set in 1967 and follows 18-year-old Susanna, who is admitted to Claymoore psychiatric hospital after a crisis involving an overdose. There she befriends several patients, especially the charismatic Lisa, who encourages her to resist treatment.
Where to find it
Rent or buy on major digital stores. Streaming availability rotates; check JustWatch. Susanna Kaysen's memoir also available.
Before you start
Heads up: Suicide shown on screen and self-harm.
Age: R (sexuality, drug use, strong language)
I felt a funeral in my brain, And mourners, to and fro, Kept treading, treading, till it seemed That sense was breaking through.Emily Dickinson, Poems by Emily Dickinson, Three Series
