- Online social platforms have increased visibility and discussion on mental health topics.
- Not all mental health information shared online is necessarily accurate, evidence-based, or even well-intentioned.
- Experts say people with mental health issues may be particularly vulnerable to these types of messages.
Anyone can create a TikTok account.
To stay in touch with friends and family, this can be a simple and effective tool.
However, as you might expect – or as you may have already noticed – this also means that not everything shared on TikTok is based on fact.
The same goes for other popular social platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter).
In a new book edited by Jonathan N. Stea and Stephen Hupp, a panel of psychology professionals examines the potential dangers of seeking mental health advice and treatment online, particularly on social media platforms and celebrity sites .
What are the specific dangers and what can be done to avoid them? Here’s what the experts have to say.
“I use TikTok and often witness mental health issues being shared and discussed on the platform. » Andrea TarantelleLPC, NCC, a counselor with ADHD who was not involved in the book, said Medical news today.
“I see anecdotal advice and personal experiences shared that often oversimplify the complexity of mental health issues. Individuals then self-diagnose with conditions such as ADHD And autism in the comments section, just based on a personal experience posted by the content creator,” Tarantella said.
While personal anecdotes certainly have the potential to be true, experts say they should not be applied broadly or taken as definitive.
Experts also warn against content that promotes immediate results and especially those that encourage viewers to make a purchase. Marketing videos can be designed to look like typical user-generated content.
“Remember that there is no quick fix or miracle cure to the complexity that is mental health, and consider the motivations of the creator. Are they trying to make money from you by getting you to download an app or buy a product? »
— Andrea Tarantella, Licensed Professional Counselor
Dr Alex Dimitriuspecialist in psychiatry and sleep medicine and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in California, agrees.
“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” said Dimitriu, who was also not involved with the book. MNT.
“Anyone looking for hope is prone to misinformation and this is especially true when it comes to mental health,” Dimitriu said.
“Since there are very few objective tests or outcomes (like blood pressure or cholesterol) in mental health, you really have to work with a specialist to decide when something is wrong, what to do, and how to measure the outcome,” did he declare. added.
Self-diagnosing and deciding on a treatment plan based on anecdotal or predatory information online can delay professional help or even cause harm.
“Online misinformation about mental health risks sending people down the wrong treatment path, simply because they don’t know the alternatives or the effectiveness of a given treatment,” Dimitriu said.
Although misinformation can reach anyone, teens and teens can be particularly vulnerable to these types of messages.
“Younger users may be more susceptible to this type of misinformation because they are still developing the critical thinking skills needed to distinguish between credible and overly simplistic information,” Tarantella said.
The short format encouraged by most social media platforms can also eliminate important nuances related to the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness.
“I have seen a complex mental illness reduced to a single symptom or solution. Essentially, symptoms like tapping or shaking legs are put out by a creator who claims to have an autism diagnosis,” Tarantella explained.
Although the content creator in this example may indeed experience this symptom, it alone is not enough to make a diagnosis.
Additionally, I discovered “mental health tips.” I’ve discovered some great advice from licensed professionals who post content on TikTok, but recognize that these “hacks” are just helpful tools and not a treatment for a disorder.
— Andrea Tarantella, Licensed Professional Counselor
Does this mean there is no place for online mental health counseling?
Certainly not, experts say. But a critical eye is always required.
“A little knowledge is a dangerous thing,” Dimitriu warns.
“For any advice and recommendations, look at who it comes from and what their training is. Make sure it’s not well-hidden marketing for a product or service,” Dimitriu said.
“Also search the internet to look at a given treatment or supplement and see if it is validated and tested,” he added.
It is important not to use these same social media platforms when seeking validation, but instead to use trusted resources, such as the following government agencies:
Tatiana Rivera CruzMSW, LCSW, a therapist and clinical social worker with an ADHD counselor who was not involved in the book, said MNT that “the best advice should be to consider professional help.” The best option will be to look for professional and reliable platforms or in-person services.
“If the symptoms are significant enough to impact your life, your relationships, your ability to sleep, eat or relax, it makes sense to work with a licensed specialist,” Dimitriu agreed.
“If you have questions or concerns about your own mental well-being, it is important to seek out reliable information, contact a licensed mental health professional, and utilize your circle of support (friends, family, etc.). ),” Tarantelle said.
The book itself, Investigating clinical psychology: pseudoscience, fringe science, and controversiesincludes contributions from three dozen authors.
It is recommended as supplemental reading material for clinical psychology courses at the undergraduate and graduate level.
Some experts declined to be interviewed for a book launch.
They noted that a book is not necessarily subject to the same scientific rigor required for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
