”Joker” and Mental Illness
LEAD-IN
1. Listen to a song and circle the adjectives which, according to you, best describe
it.
2. In pairs, discuss.
a. What made you choose those
adjectives?
b. What things make you feel like
that in your normal life?
c. What do you do when you feel like
that?
3. Watch a short clip from the movie “Joker”, starring Joaquin Phoenix. Answer.
a. How do you think the character is feeling?
b. What do you think has happened that made him do that?
c. Why do you think he is dancing?
READING
4. You will read an article published on the website “The Mighty” about why
“Joker” could trigger some viewers with mental illness. Read quickly and
answer.
a. How did the author feel when watching the movie?
b. Does she recommend people to go and see it?
”Joker” and Mental Illness
I’m not a huge fan of pulling apart movies for the hospitals and abuse occur, which many people
sake of telling people why they should be can relate to. This is another 9. ___________ point
angered by them. I generally believe if a movie in the movie to watch out for.
offended you, just don’t watch it again and don’t
recommend it to others. I feel that sometimes,
people are offended by things and that’s the
nature of life.
So, this article is not for the 1. ________ of telling
people anything along those lines. I went to this
movie knowing it would 2. _________ mental With all of this backstory, Arthur eventually takes
illness and having bipolar 3. _________ myself, I his suicidal impulses out on others. He goes off
thought it would be interesting. Well, I didn’t his meds because the state cuts 10. __________
know what I was in for. for them and for his therapy. He goes to a dark
and disturbing place and becomes a very ugly,
My personal opinion of “Joker” is that I loved it. I
homicidal person. He says in the film that this is
thought it was a deeply 4. _________ character
because he is forgotten and neglected in his
study that, well… disturbed me. But I like
mental illness.
disturbing movies. And I thought I might let some
folks on The Mighty know what they’re in for if Some people with mental illness may be
they’re curious. offended and put off by this. Most of us would
never be capable of such carnage, but this film
Arthur’s character in the beginning just wants one
does depict and outright declare untreated
thing: help. Help with his 5. __________ thoughts.
mental illness in Arthur as one of the primary
Help in the form of more medication and better
drivers of his homicidal behaviour.
therapy. His life is overwhelming and 6.
__________. This is a trigger point for some Now, I work in the mental health field and have
people. How many of us haven’t struggled with seen untreated mental illness can indeed cause
this issue, begged for that kind of help before some very upsetting symptoms and behaviours.
and perhaps not received it? But these symptoms don’t represent the norm
and most of us with mental illness look nothing
Arthur discusses suicide and puts a 7. _________
like Arthur.
to his head many times, in gesture and with a real
gun. He does these things with a smile and with Arthurs are one in a billion, that’s why he’s the
laughter — another trigger for many of us. Joker. He’s not meant to be a common person
who struggles with a mental illness. I’d love to
We learn he is 8. __________ ill and has been in a
believe the average Joe out there could see that.
state hospital. He also has a history of significant
But with recent discussion in the news about
childhood trauma. Scenes and discussions of
”Joker” and Mental Illness
putting people in mental institutions as a way to it doesn’t cement other false viewpoints about
prevent 11. _________ shootings, this is a “dangerous mentally ill people.”
complicated film. It very well may leave those
One can only hope, right?
with mental illness feeling attacked.
So, if you have a 14. __________ skin and want to
Now, I didn’t feel that way, but I can understand if
go for it, it was very well acted, violent, dark and
some did. It was hard to 12. __________ but I still
thought-provoking — for me at least. But it’s not
loved it. I won’t change my mind on that. I
for everyone. I think people will love it or hate it. I
thought it was well acted and thought-13.
have a feeling even this article will evoke some
___________. But that’s my viewpoint. I just hope
strong feelings in either direction, which is OK.
At least we’re talking.
5. Read the text again and complete the gaps with the correct word from the box.
Trigger - Mentally - Mass – Dark - Swallow – Disorder – Sake – Gun – Lonely - Funding
Tackle - Provoking – Disturbing - Thick
6. Read and answer:
a. According to the writer, what is the purpose of the article?
b. How does the author describe Arthur?
c. Why does Arthur start to take his suicidal impulses on others?
d. Why does the author claim that Arthur’s case is “one in a billion”?
e. What is the author trying to convey when she states “I just hope it
(the movie) doesn’t cement other false viewpoints about “dangerous
mentally ill people.”?
VIDEO
7. In pairs, discuss.
a. What is mental health?
b. Do we all have mental health?
c. Is mental health more important than physical health?
d. How do you think people take care of their mental health? What works for one
person should work for the rest?
8. Watch the video and check if your answers are correct.
”Joker” and Mental Illness
9. Watch the video again and check if the sentences are true
or false. Correct the false ones.
a. People’s social media profiles are not to be trusted.
b. Sasha’s worries are related to end-of-year exams at
school.
c. Mental health is what we feel and think, our emotions and moods.
d. You should never feel negative emotions.
e. It can be energy-consuming pretending that everything is fine.
f. Talking to someone can make matters worse.
g. People can stop enjoying things they used to.
h. Negative feelings are OK but not if they stay for a long time.
i. Asking for help when needed is OK.
j. Only playing a sport can help you feel better.
GO BEYOND
10. Read the Mental Health Foundation’s publication about
How to Support Someone with a Mental Health Problem. In
pairs or small groups:
a. Synthesize the information on the website.
b. Prepare posters or leaflets about the information you have found:
• signs of mental health,
• how to help,
• tips for talking about mental health,
• how to respond in a crisis,
• how to respond is someone is suicidal,
• useful organizations in your city or country that work with mental health
problems or suicide prevention.
c. Share the information with your school, friends, family, and community.
• Post on social media,
• Print leaflets and give them out to people,
• Hang in posters in highly-frequented place (e.g. bathrooms, halls, a café,
your classroom, etc).
• Organize talks and inform your community about the information you have
found.
• Spread the word!
”Joker” and Mental Illness
LEAD-IN
1. Listen to a song and circle the adjectives which, according to you, best describe
it.
2. In pairs, discuss.
a. What made you choose those
adjectives?
b. What things make you feel like
that in your normal life?
c. What do you do when you feel like
that?
3. Watch a short clip from the movie “Joker”, starring Joaquin Phoenix. Answer.
a. How do you think the character is feeling?
b. What do you think has happened that made him do that?
c. Why do you think he is dancing?
READING
4. You will read an article published on the website “The Mighty” about why
“Joker” could trigger some viewers with mental illness. Read quickly and
answer.
a. How did the author feel when watching the movie?
b. Does she recommend people to go and see it?
”Joker” and Mental Illness
I’m not a huge fan of pulling apart movies for the hospitals and abuse occur, which many people
sake of telling people why they should be can relate to. This is another 9. TRIGGER point in
angered by them. I generally believe if a movie the movie to watch out for.
offended you, just don’t watch it again and don’t
recommend it to others. I feel that sometimes,
people are offended by things and that’s the
nature of life.
So, this article is not for the 1. SAKE of telling
people anything along those lines. I went to this
movie knowing it would 2. TACKLE mental illness With all of this backstory, Arthur eventually takes
and having bipolar 3. DISORDER myself, I his suicidal impulses out on others. He goes off
thought it would be interesting. Well, I didn’t his meds because the state cuts 10. FUNDING
know what I was in for. for them and for his therapy. He goes to a dark
and disturbing place and becomes a very ugly,
My personal opinion of “Joker” is that I loved it. I
homicidal person. He says in the film that this is
thought it was a deeply 4. DISTURBING
because he is forgotten and neglected in his
character study that, well… disturbed me. But I
mental illness.
like disturbing movies. And I thought I might let
some folks on The Mighty know what they’re in Some people with mental illness may be
for if they’re curious. offended and put off by this. Most of us would
never be capable of such carnage, but this film
Arthur’s character in the beginning just wants one
does depict and outright declare untreated
thing: help. Help with his 5. DARK thoughts. Help
mental illness in Arthur as one of the primary
in the form of more medication and better
drivers of his homicidal behaviour.
therapy. His life is overwhelming and 6. LONELY
This is a trigger point for some people. How many Now, I work in the mental health field and have
of us haven’t struggled with this issue, begged for seen untreated mental illness can indeed cause
that kind of help before and perhaps not some very upsetting symptoms and behaviours.
received it? But these symptoms don’t represent the norm
and most of us with mental illness look nothing
Arthur discusses suicide and puts a 7. GUN to his
like Arthur.
head many times, in gesture and with a real gun.
He does these things with a smile and with Arthurs are one in a billion, that’s why he’s the
laughter — another trigger for many of us. Joker. He’s not meant to be a common person
who struggles with a mental illness. I’d love to
We learn he is 8. MENTALLY ill and has been in
believe the average Joe out there could see that.
a state hospital. He also has a history of significant
But with recent discussion in the news about
childhood trauma. Scenes and discussions of
”Joker” and Mental Illness
putting people in mental institutions as a way to it doesn’t cement other false viewpoints about
prevent 11. MASS shootings, this is a “dangerous mentally ill people.”
complicated film. It very well may leave those
One can only hope, right?
with mental illness feeling attacked.
So, if you have a 14. THICK skin and want to go
Now, I didn’t feel that way, but I can understand if
for it, it was very well acted, violent, dark and
some did. It was hard to 12. SWALLOW but I still
thought-provoking — for me at least. But it’s not
loved it. I won’t change my mind on that. I
for everyone. I think people will love it or hate it. I
thought it was well acted and thought-13.
have a feeling even this article will evoke some
PROVOKING But that’s my viewpoint. I just hope
strong feelings in either direction, which is OK.
At least we’re talking.
5. Read the text again and complete the gaps with the correct word from the box.
Trigger - Mentally - Mass – Dark - Swallow – Disorder – Sake – Gun – Lonely – Funding
Tackle - Provoking – Disturbing - Thick
6. Read and answer:
a. According to the writer, what is the purpose of the article?
b. How does the author describe Arthur?
c. Why does Arthur start to take his suicidal impulses on others?
d. Why does the author claim that Arthur’s case is “one in a billion”?
e. What is the author trying to convey when she states “I just hope it
(the movie) doesn’t cement other false viewpoints about “dangerous
mentally ill people.”?
VIDEO
7. In pairs, discuss.
a. What is mental health?
b. Do we all have mental health?
c. Is mental health more important than physical health?
d. How do you think people take care of their mental health? What works for one
person should work for the rest?
8. Watch the video and check if your answers are correct.
”Joker” and Mental Illness
9. Watch the video again and check if the sentences are true
or false. Correct the false ones.
a. People’s social media profiles are not to be trusted. TRUE
b. Sasha’s worries are related to end-of-year exams at school. TRUE
c. Mental health is what we feel and think, our emotions and moods. TRUE
d. You should never feel negative emotions. FALSE
e. It can be energy-consuming pretending that everything is fine. TRUE
f. Talking to someone can make matters worse. FALSE
g. People can stop enjoying things they used to. TRUE
h. Negative feelings are OK but not if they stay for a long time. TRUE
i. Asking for help when needed is OK. TRUE
j. Only playing a sport can help you feel better. FALSE
GO BEYOND
10. Read the Mental Health Foundation’s publication about
How to Support Someone with a Mental Health Problem. In
pairs or small groups:
a. Synthesize the information on the website.
b. Prepare posters or leaflets about the information you have found:
• signs of mental health,
• how to help,
• tips for talking about mental health,
• how to respond in a crisis,
• how to respond is someone is suicidal,
• useful organizations in your city or country that work with mental health
problems or suicide prevention.
c. Share the information with your school, friends, family, and community.
• Post on social media,
• Print leaflets and give them out to people,
• Hang in posters in highly-frequented place (e.g. bathrooms, halls, a café,
your classroom, etc).
• Organize talks and inform your community about the information you have
found.
• Spread the word!
