You may not like reality TV but How 'Mad' Are You? rightly tests our assumptions about mental illness

Abstract

<p>In recent years, Australia’s public broadcasters have been willing to program innovative, thought-provoking content to coincide with Mental Health Week. This year is no exception, with SBS taking a gamble on a new format in a two-part series How ‘Mad’ Are You?, which began last night.</p>

The series is produced by Blackfella Films, which also made the factual series First Contact and Filthy, Rich and Homeless. Much like these shows, How ‘Mad’ Are You? adapts the reality TV format of “the social experiment” to examine a complex social issue.