Know the signs of depression. Recognize the symptoms of anxiety. Pay attention to your friend’s mood swings. Efforts have been made to raise awareness about mental health for decades, and now the topic is ubiquitous. It’s topping the charts on social media sites, and everyone from celebrities to politicians to sports superstars are talking about it more openly. At the same time, it appears that our overall mental health is worsening, as more and more people report having mental health problems. In this episode, we explore how the field of mental health is evolving and adapting. We’ll find out what traditionally trained therapists think about mental health advice on social media, why some experts say too much awareness can backfire, and why mental illness can be so difficult to diagnose. Plus, one woman’s quest to keep taking her ADHD medication as shortages drag on.
ALSO HEARD:
- Mental health advice abounds on social media sites like TikTok, and much of it comes from people who don’t have traditional training or degrees. Why do users flock to this advice and what do therapists think? We’ll hear from TikTok life coach Samantha Chung and social work professor Jonathan Singer.
- Psychiatrists diagnose patients based on their symptoms. But what happens when none of these labels fit? Writer Sarah Fay takes us through her years-long diagnostic journey, which she also wrote about in her two books, “Pathological,” And “Cured.” We hear his story and that of the movement within psychiatry to study conditions based on biological measures rather than observed symptoms.
- Reporter Chloe Irving recently found herself scouring Brooklyn to find a pharmacy that could fill her prescription for ADHD medication. But often, as his symptoms worsen, this pursuit becomes more difficult. She explores the ADHD medication shortage from a personal perspective and gets tips for coping.
- Mental health advocates have campaigned for decades for greater awareness, to ensure people can get help and not feel ashamed. Now that mental health issues are discussed more openly and frequently than ever, some experts are wondering about unintended consequences. We hear from psychologist Darby Saxbe and psychiatrist Jonathan Slater.
