🌪 Devi Vishwakumar (Never Have I Ever) — The Weight of Grief Disguised as Humour
Devi’s story begins with tragedy: the sudden loss of her father during a concert. This moment shatters her world. Instead of openly grieving, Devi channels her pain into ambition and sarcasm. She tries to keep up her grades, chase popularity, and even pursue romance, all while carrying a deep wound she rarely acknowledges.
🔹 Grief and Denial: Devi’s refusal to openly talk about her father’s death reflects a common mental health struggle. Many people, especially teens, hide behind a mask of normalcy to avoid facing overwhelming emotions.
🔹 Anxiety and Anger: Her short temper and impulsive decisions are outward signs of inner turmoil. She lashes out at friends and family, not because she doesn’t care, but because grief often manifests as frustration.
🔹 Therapy Stigma: One of the most powerful parts of Devi’s arc is her reluctant therapy journey. At first, she dismisses her therapist, joking her way through sessions. But over time, she realizes therapy isn’t about “fixing” her — it’s about giving her space to feel.
💡 Mental health insight: Devi reminds us that grief is not linear. Healing doesn’t mean “getting over it” but learning how to live with loss. Seeking professional help, even reluctantly, can open doors to self-acceptance and healthier coping mechanisms.
🔒 Cadence Sinclair (We Were Liars) — Memory Loss as a Defence Against Trauma
Cadence, the central figure of We Were Liars, tells a story drenched in mystery. After a terrible accident on her family’s private island, she suffers from migraines, memory gaps, and confusion. Slowly, readers learn that her body and mind are shielding her from unbearable truths.
🔹 Psychological Trauma: Cadence’s amnesia is symbolic of how the brain protects itself. Dissociation and memory loss can occur when trauma is too overwhelming to process.
🔹 The Sinclair Family Secrets: Her family’s obsession with appearances — wealth, perfection, power — means no one openly discusses their dysfunction. Cadence inherits not just privilege but silence, which isolates her further.
🔹 Loneliness and Identity: Unlike Devi, who expresses her pain through anger, Cadence withdraws. Her migraines and isolation reflect how unspoken trauma consumes her identity and isolates her from peers.
💡 Mental health insight: Cadence’s journey reminds us that secrecy and repression often worsen mental health struggles. Trauma thrives in silence. Healing begins when truth is acknowledged, no matter how painful.
💔 Grief as a Universal Thread
Though Devi and Cadence seem like very different characters — one loud, sarcastic, and impulsive; the other quiet, fragmented, and withdrawn — they are bound by grief.
- 🥀 Devi loses her father, and her struggle is learning to let herself feel openly.
- 🥀 Cadence loses not only family members but her memory of them, which represents how trauma can steal even the past.
In both cases, grief leads to behaviors that others misunderstand. Devi’s anger looks like immaturity. Cadence’s memory lapses look like weakness. But behind these behaviors lies profound psychological pain that deserves compassion rather than judgment.
💡 Mental health insight: Everyone grieves differently. Some lash out, others shut down. Neither is “wrong.” Understanding this spectrum helps us be gentler with ourselves and others.
🌱 Resilience and the Messy Road to Healing
Neither story ends with a neat bow. Devi doesn’t suddenly become a perfect daughter or friend. Cadence doesn’t magically heal once her memories return. And that’s exactly why these stories resonate so deeply.
- ✨ Devi’s growth is about learning balance: ambition alongside vulnerability, humor alongside honesty. She shows that grief can coexist with joy.
- ✨ Cadence’s growth is about facing truth, no matter how unbearable. Her confrontation with memory shows the painful but necessary step of integrating trauma into identity.
Both characters show us that resilience isn’t about “bouncing back” but about rebuilding differently. Healing may leave scars, but those scars become part of strength.
🧩 Why These Stories Matter
So why do these fictional narratives matter for real mental health? Because they echo real struggles teens and adults face every day.
- They show that therapy, though intimidating, can help process grief.
- They reveal how family systems, secrecy, and cultural pressures shape mental health.
- They remind us that grief and trauma don’t follow a timeline — healing looks different for everyone.
📚 Never Have I Ever normalises therapy and openly shows the awkward, stumbling process of healing.
📚 We Were Liars depicts the cost of silence, teaching us that confronting painful truths is part of reclaiming mental stability.
🌟 Final Thoughts: Turning Fiction into Reflection
Devi and Cadence are fictional characters, but their struggles mirror countless real stories. From grief to secrecy, from anger to isolation, their arcs remind us that mental health deserves openness, compassion, and patience.
If you see yourself in Devi’s fiery grief, Cadence’s silent pain, or anywhere in between, know this:
✨ Your experiences are valid.
✨ Healing takes time.
✨ Seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Stories may be fictional, but the lessons they offer are real. Let’s use them to break stigma, open conversations, and remind each other that nobody has to navigate their mental health journey alone. 💜
🙏 Special Thanks
A heartfelt thank you to Saanvi Talwar for crafting this thoughtful and compassionate blog post. Your ability to weave together fiction and real-world mental health insights not only deepens our understanding of characters like Devi and Cadence but also encourages honest conversations around grief, trauma, and healing. Your words remind us that stories can be powerful tools for empathy, reflection, and change. 💜
Mindcare Fortmac 