Made up mobsters with accurate mental health depictions

I wouldn’t say I’m the biggest fan in the world of the Sopranos. However, I have been watching the last couple of seasons. It’s a really entertaining series, but I’ve been most interested in their depictions of mental health issues. I would never say their examples are the most positive in the world. I will say they’re probably the most accurate I’ve seen in a long time. For those of you who don’t watch I won’t go into the whole history of the show as that would take way too long, but the past couple of episodes have really hit the nail on the head. I’m going to use some names here that people who don’t know the show may have no clue about, but it’s my only option. Chris who is Tony’s (the head of the family) nephew has been struggling with addiction for a couple of seasons. He went sober a while ago, but had been taking major criticism from everyone for being sober. In a moving scene he explains to Tony that both of his parents were addicts and that it’s in his genes. He tells Tony of all people he should understand, because of all of the mental health issues in his family and the fact that Tony has been going to therapy. More on Chris in a bit. Tony has a come to Jesus moment after the conversation when his son A.J. hits such a massive depression after his fiancée breaks up with him that he can’t get out of the house. Tony tells his therapist that it’s his fault, because it’s his genes. Now here is where it turns a little negative/realistic. Tony and his wife try everything to get A.J. involved in things to come out of his depression. After all of their efforts fail Tony suggests A.J. starts hanging out with his friends who are gambling and going to strip clubs. A.J. starts self-medicating pretty hard core, but the masking does get him out of the house and Tony’s wife is amazed at the progress. Again I’m not saying it’s positive, but it happens a lot. The show creatively portrays this incident in a way that makes you think about what 20 year olds are doing today to deal with mental health. Another poetic scene is A.J. talking to his therapist in pretty much the same way his dad does showing again the cyclical nature of these issues. But the dramatic depictions don’t end there. Chris has enough of being picked on for being sober and decides to have a drink. He continues drinking and eventually goes back to heroine and cocaine. One night he is driving Tony while he is high and they get in a bad accident. As Chris and Tony sit next to each other at the bottom of a hill, Chris tells Tony that he needs to help him get out of the driver’s side because he’ll never pass the drug test. Tony looks in the backseat and sees Chris’s heroine tie off in the baby seat. He then proceeds to get out of the car and Chris asks for his help again. Instead Tony holds Chris’s nose shut causing him to choke on his own blood and die. It’s a tragic scene with symbolism ranging from Tony being tired of helping to Chris already being dead by falling off the wagon to the lack of understanding on these issues and so many more. It’s just refreshing to see how deep the Sopranos is willing to go with their depictions. Positive or negative their depictions are better than most shows I have seen. If you haven’t seen the episodes watch them or get them on DVD when they come out.