By Lily Wiley
It is easy to relate our experiences to others’, sometimes too easy. It’s no secret that mental illness is on the rise amongst young people, but one can’t help but wonder, where does it all come from? We all know COVID-19 had a huge impact on the social and emotional health of everyone being forced to isolate in quarantine, especially young people, who thrive and learn in more social environments. However, 2020 was three years ago now (crazy, right?) and teens still seem to be struggling. Perhaps, not simply just quarantine, but the changing habits adopted during quarantine, require further investigation.
When everyone was separated, one thing to keep us all connected was social media. One specific platform, TikTok, became especially popular during the early stages of COVID-19, as a fun way to express ourselves and stay in the loop with not only our friends, but emerging trends and creators. TikTok also became a place for people, specifically teens, to relate to one another while struggling through the pandemic, which provided a safe-space for support and encouragement. That being said, this platform for sharing experiences and stories has also harbored more negative aspects as well.
Image Courtesy of user ByteDance via Wikimedia Commons.
Recently, people have started to notice the downfalls of posting mental health struggles online, revolving around inappropriate self-diagnoses and disinformation in general. According to a psychiatric study performed in 2022 by the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry (authors Anthony Yeung, Enoch Ng, and Elia Abi-Jaoude), more than half of the 100 most viewed TikTok videos about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, more commonly known by the acronym ADHD, were deemed to be misleading and not based on factual medical information regarding the disorder. In addition, the majority of these misleading videos were uploaded by individuals who were not involved in any kind of healthcare work, making them not qualified to spread such information to the public. However, due to TikTok’s accessible nature, anyone can post anything about any topic, which basically anyone can see at any time. While this can be helpful for those trying to find support or community, it is by no means a substitute for professional help or medical advice.
A strange phenomenon which has been promoting the spread of self-diagnoses is the rise of “Mental Health Influencers,” who spread information about various mental illnesses based on alleged experiences. While it can be helpful for young people to see others with the same or similar issues to build a sense of community and togetherness, these so-called influencers are not health professionals, and can only speak for their own personal experiences. With this influx of people sharing their stories, it becomes easier for viewers without mental illness to relate to aspects which are shared, in an attempt to fit in with those who they admire on social media. While these influencers can be symbols of strength and hope for others struggling, in many cases, the mental illness itself can be seen as desirable to those who cannot actually relate. So, people may invent or imagine symptoms in order to fit with a specific narrative. According to Rikki Schlott with the New York Post, “Recently, psychologists have noticed a wave of adolescent girls also claiming to suffer from Tourette’s Syndrome and rare mental health conditions, such as borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia — conditions not typically seen in the teen demographic. And a common denominator between many of these symptomatic girls has been identified: Consuming mental health content on TikTok.”
Image courtesy of user National Institutes of Mental Health (Modified by user Hamiltonham) via Wikimedia Commons.
When videos are prescriptive, and include phrases such as “signs to watch out for,” viewers may identify with some listed symptoms without actually having the disorder being described. This may also appeal to those with health anxiety, or viewers who may unintentionally harbor hypochondriac tendencies as a result of an anxiety disorder or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Therefore, this makes those already struggling with mental illness more concerned about other possible diagnoses, with little to no reasoning. Self-diagnosis is never a good idea, especially when based solely on a unreputable source on an open platform.
So, what can be done about this? It’s simple, education. First and foremost, we need to educate younger generations to not trust everything they see on social media. Although this is a cliche and often emphasized, the implications of this simple advice are not always considered while scrolling. To be frank, most people do not know what they are talking about, especially on social media. If you or someone you know is struggling, the best thing to do is seek professional help, not a stranger on the internet. And lastly, mental illness should never be desired or trendy. Even if it seems like “everyone’s doing it,” that doesn’t mean you should. Many people are struggling with very real problems, and pretending for the sake of a trend or to be “quirky” takes away credibility from those who are being genuine. While platforms such as TikTok can be great for spreading accurate information as well as sharing experiences, viewers should pay attention to where this information is coming from, and learn to take things with a grain of salt.
Cover image courtesy of user Solen Feyissa via Wikimedia Commons. No changes were made. Link to license.
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