First and foremost, the film is one of the few films that depicts mental illness. A Beautiful Mind was a box office success and brought the debate over mental illness into the spotlight. Any effort to raise awareness of mental health issues is definitely positive for public perception. However, some aspects of the film were not good for public perception. In the film, Nash quit his medication and began healing himself through willpower alone. The film produces the image that going off medication and overcoming schizophrenia through sheer willpower is a serious possibility. However, in reality, not taking medication for an illness can cause several serious difficulties for some people. Although Nash overcame schizophrenia without medication, not everyone does. Highly intelligent people cannot simply use willpower to eradicate psychotic symptoms. The film depicts Nash as simply unaware of his schizophrenic delusions. In reality, a person cannot ignore delusions or differentiate between reality and illusion. The film puts a negative label on drugs and practically conveys the message that everyone can overcome.