Summary
- Manhwa are starting to address mental illness more, providing insightful representations in various genres.
- Some manhwa like I'm Not That Kind of Talent and The Duchess Has A Deathwish tackle PTSD, anxiety, and eating disorders.
- Stories like Taste Of Illness and Dr. Frost offer nuanced portrayals of anxiety and other mental health issues.
Mental illness can be one of the hardest things to talk about and portray, so it's often avoided in the media. In the last few years, there has been more and more advocacy for mental health awareness, which has led to those topics appearing in all forms of entertainment.
12 Great Manhwa That Have Rough Starts
These manhwa may not give a great first impression, but it doesn't take long for them to get the ball rolling and become something special.
Of course, that includes manhwa. While the number is still quite small, there are great stories that both allude to and directly address various mental illnesses. Due to the nature of this topic, there may be graphic content, so this list will apply warnings when necessary. These are some of the best manhwa that deal with topics of mental illness.
7 I'm Not That Kind Of Talent
MyAnimeList Score: 7.43
- Published: 2022 to Present
- Genre/Themes: Action, Fantasy
- Author: Denpi
- Illustrator: Meona
Although the story of I'm Not That Kind of Talent doesn't revolve around mental illness, it is the basis of the main character. Deon Hart was once a normal child, but due to the scheming of other nobles, he was forced to participate in the 8-Year War, which left him scarred and permanently changed his personality.
Action Manhwa With Weak Protagonists
The protagonists in these manhwa aren't the strongest when their stories start, but they build strength in many ways over the course of their tales.
This story features depictions of PTSD and Dissociative Identity Disorder, which are both tackled very well using the fantastical nature of the setting. It's a great example of how mental illness can take control of someone's life and how trauma exacerbates those issues further.
6 The Duchess Has A Deathwish
MyAnimeList Score: N/A
- Published: 2022 to Present
- Genre/Themes: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
- Author: HiMyDear
- Illustrator: RECON
Content Warning - Self-Harm, Suicide
This manhwa directly addresses suicide and self-harm. Having lived a terrible life, the protagonist decides to commit suicide, but instead fo dying, she is transported into a novel, taking over the body of Selena the villainess. With a grim ending on the horizon, she decides to jump from a clock tower.
Despite the dark beginnings, this is actually a story of recovery. Selena goes through a gradual change as she experiences love and kindness for the first time. It's not without difficulty though, as she struggles with her thoughts and ideations of death every step of the way.
5 How To Win My Husband Over
MyAnimeList Score: 8.13
- Published: 2021 to Present
- Genre/Themes: Drama, Fantasy, Isekai, Psychological, Villainess
- Author: Nyangi-wa Hyangsinnyo
- Illustrator: Siru
Content Warning - Abuse
In How to Win My Husband Over, Ruby suffers from many mental illnesses, but the most prevalent in the story is her eating disorder. She developed Bulimia as a coping mechanism for the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father and brothers.
Best Shojo Royalty Manhwa
These tales of royalty, princesses, and reincarnation stand out as the best in their genre.
Although Ruby's eating disorder is only mentioned a couple of times, it's introduced early enough in the story that it becomes an underlying conflict. While other problems arise, she is still dealing with the mental and physical toll of her Bulimia as the series moves along.
4 The Pizza Delivery Man And The Gold Palace
MyAnimeList Score: N/A
- Published: 2022 to Present
- Genre/Themes: Boys Love, Drama, Romance
- Author: Upi
- Illustrator: Upi
Anxiety is a common feeling people experience, but when it gets really bad, it can be debilitating. Kang Seo-An has terrible anxiety problems that cause panic attacks and prevent him from leaving his home. It's when he's at his worst that he meets Doh Woo-Won, a perpetual part-timer jumping from job to job.
Seo-An's anxiety is essentially the main antagonist of the story, as it prevents him from working and socializing. His entire life is on pause because of the intense fear that takes over when he's out in public. His relationship with Woo-won is what helps him cope with his anxiety, eventually granting him the room he needs to grow.
3 Sweet Home
MyAnimeList Score: 8.27
- Chapters: 141
- Published: 2017 to 2020
- Genre/Themes: Action, Drama, Horror, Suspense, Gore
- Author: Carnby Kim
- Illustrator: Young-chan Hwang
Content Warning - Extreme Violence
Considering that mental illness is a hard topic to discuss, authors often use other means to explain and show what it feels like to suffer from a mental disorder. In this case, Sweet Home uses a monster apocalypse as a vehicle to understand depression and other emotional struggles.
Cha Hyun lost his family in a tragic accident and was forced to grow up quickly, living alone in a new apartment. Things get worse as the people around him suddenly turn into flesh-eating monsters, transforming as their desires and emotions become too much to handle. This manhwa shows extreme violence and gore on top of its interpretation of mental disorders.
2 Taste Of Illness
MyAnimeList Score: 7.80
- Chapters: 15
- Published: 2018 to 2019
- Genre/Themes: Drama, Psychological, School
- Author: Il-Kwon Ha
- Illustrator: Il-Kwon Ha
Taste Of Illness is widely regarded to have one of the best depictions of anxiety in manhwa. It tells the story of Byeon Yujin as he forms a tentative friendship with Lee Suni, as they are partnered for a class assignment. Both prefer to be alone, which makes forming a connection even harder.
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What makes this story so great is how anxiety is represented. When Yujin experiences intense anxiety, a mass of black goo appears and assaults him, and it gives the whole story a more violent undertone. Many people don't know how panic attacks feel, and this manhwa does a good job conveying that without being too heavy-handed.
1 Dr. Frost
MyAnimeList Score: 7.97
- Chapters: 258
- Published: 2011 to 2021
- Genre/Themes: Drama, Medical, Psychological
- Author: Jong-bum Lee
- Illustrator: Jong-bum Lee
When it comes to manhwa about psychology, Dr. Frost is one of the best and most popular on the market. It covers a wide variety of mental health issues. Frost is a Sherlock Holmes-esque character, a genius in his field, but lacking in empathy and emotion. Nevertheless, he continues to work as a therapist at Yonggang University.
Aside from being an entertaining story, this manhwa is also quite informative, as it gives basic information about the study of psychology, using character stories as examples when necessary. Mental illness is just one part of it. Not many manhwa are educational and entertaining, but Dr. Frost manages to be both in equal measure.
8 Best Manhwa Where The Protagonist Is Always Struggling
There are many different manhwa to read out there, but not a ton with a protagonist who is so constantly in danger, here are the best ones to read.