By Nikki Solomon 

January 1999, the first episode of The Sopranos aired on HBO; The Sopranos was filled with ways of exploring and portraying the great male ego; all male characters were bound by masculinity. Viewer’s loved the show and how relatable Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) was as a character. Although he was a top shelf member of the Mafia, viewers related to other aspects of his life such as his unhappy wife, rebellious children, suffering mother, and tough workers. But, the one thing that viewers related to most was Tony’s mental health issues; he battles anxiety and depression throughout the show, as he is trying to find his purpose and make sense of his life. Today, The Sopranos is one of the top-rated TV shows portraying male mental health. 

Some of the best scenes in The Sopranos were quieter but intense - Tony’s therapy sessions with Dr. Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco). Through these scenes, viewers were shown a different, more intimate psychological side of Tony. These scenes exposed Tony’s neuroses, dislikes, fears, desires, and secrets. Tony opens up to Dr. Melfi about his family concerns and his personal fears of losing those who are close to him. The show also teaches us a lot about depression and anxiety, and how it affects your everyday life; portraying constant overeating, laziness, and unbalanced hours of sleep. 

Tony’s depression and anxiety was rooted in his childhood, more specifically his mother. Tony’s mom was hard to please and took a lot of her aggression out on her children. The show started with Tony’s panic attack, and throughout the seasons, we discover that Tony’s anxiety also stems from his childhood experiences. Tony opens up to not only Dr. Melfi, but to himself and the viewers about his inner feelings and realizations. 

The Sopranos was a revolutionary show for its time as it portrayed men who are affected by mental health, and advocated for therapy and becoming more vulnerable. As the show progresses, Tony begins to appreciate and open up about therapy. Be the boss of yourself! Own it, laugh at it, share it. 

This month, Made by Tony has teamed up with our friends at NYC Nature, a community that aims to spread HOPE: Hearing Other People's Experiences, to spread awareness around our society's mental health struggles. Be the Boss of your mental health. Proceeds from our collaboration will go to NYC Nature. Check out the great work they are doing at nycnature.com