Social Media and Mental Health: What to Believe

Have you noticed that people are talking about mental health on the internet more than ever before? Everyone from A-list celebrities to kids on TikTok is posting about topics like trauma and anxiety to depression and pandemic advice. Is this good or bad? Should you trust the advice they are giving? Let’s explore!

Is Social Media a Good Place for Mental Health Advice?

Photo of a phone with social media icons representing how in this article an Asheville therapist seeks to answer the question, "Is social media bad for your mental health?"

That depends on where you are getting your advice from. There has been an increase in people on platforms like TikTok and Instagram providing information like how to diagnose yourself with a mental illness, how to cope with symptoms of mental illness, how to get over trauma, and various other mental health topics.

The good thing about this is that it helps reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. In reality, we should not be looking at mental health any differently from physical health. If someone gets diagnosed with leukemia, people don’t generally look down on them. But for some reason, mental health has always been treated differently. If you get diagnosed with OCD, Major Depression, PTSD, or another clinical diagnosis, you might feel like people will look at you differently. The prevalence of people discussing mental health on social media is helping to change that.

Why is TikTok Bad for Mental Health Advice? (Or Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or Youtube)

Unlike in the mental health profession, there is absolutely no oversight in determining if someone has the experience and knowledge to be giving advice on social media. I’ve come across people with no formal training who offer great advice, but I’ve also come across people who offer dangerous advice. You never know what you’re going to get. But even if someone is giving good mental health advice, a lot of these platforms limit the length of a post or video. Can you really learn what you need about an anxiety disorder from a one-minute video? Can you understand the causes of depression from a tweet? Probably not. We are not suggesting that you can’t get useful stuff- we post information on our social media accounts all the time. It’s just that you have to make sure you are not using social media as your only source of information, and you have to make sure you are only listening to reputable sources. Look for accounts from people who are actually in the mental health field who have the right credentials to be discussing anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD, etc. This might include (but is not limited to) licensed clinical mental health counselors, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, etc. Fair warning - there are a lot of acronyms in mental health! You can easily search for licensing boards and regulating bodies that are relevant in your state.

Can Social Media Help People Who Have Trauma or PTSD?

Photo of a board with white shapes and the words "trauma," "abuse," "self esteem," "dreams but marked out," and "fear" representing how social media shouldn't be used to diagnose PTSD. Our asheville therapists offer quality PTSD treatment.

Some of the most dangerous information we have seen on social media platforms surrounds trauma. Taking the wrong advice about how to treat your trauma or PTSD can lead to things getting worse and can have serious negative impacts on your life. When in doubt, talk to a professional. Listening to people talk about their trauma can provide good theoretical knowledge, but that doesn’t mean it can be put into practice effectively. You might hear someone talk about how meditation helped them overcome their trauma, and that could technically be good advice, but there is a lot more information missing- what type of meditation? What else were they doing along with it? Were they also seeing a professional? Who taught them to meditate? What type of trauma did they have? Everyone is different and requires their own individualized treatment for mental health.


Can you Diagnose Your Mental Health Through Social Media?

Photo of a heart with a one next to it and a phone indicating how some people's mental health can be harmed seeking more "likes" on social media. Our Asheville therapists can help you improve an unhealthy relationship with social media.

The short answer is no. If you think you might have a mental health diagnosis, you should speak with a licensed therapist. A one-minute TikTok or even a lengthy YouTube video does not have the personal detail that a one-on-one session with a therapist does. You might know that you have anxiety, but does it meet a clinical diagnosis? Is it generalized anxiety or OCD? What strategies might be helpful for the exact symptoms that you have? Social media doesn’t provide this level of nuance. If you misdiagnose yourself it could lead to some negative consequences. The best-case scenario with social media is that it might help you to learn some things about mental health and feel less alone, but if you want to work on any of these mental health issues, the best thing to do is reach out to a therapist.

Other Mental Health Services Available at Strive On Counseling

As Asheville therapists, we understand that every individual has a unique set of mental health needs. Therefore, we offer various mental health services and forms of therapy to support individuals struggling with a wide range of concerns. For example, our services include individual counseling, anxiety treatment, EMDR trauma therapy, support for families of addicts, therapy for chronic pain & illness, therapy for men’s issues, mindfulness, Buddhist counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, and teletherapy / online therapy. Some other resources we offer include guided meditations, supplements, a list of books and other useful resources, and online courses. If you would like more information about any of these services, please reach out today, and start doing therapy in North Carolina!