Mental health: publications on networks can be misleading – 09/04/2023 – Equilíbrio

Psychological concepts are increasingly popular on social networks and present in everyday chats. But often, shared content is too shallow and can cause more questions than help. Regardless of the social media platform you use, it is very likely that you regularly come across content about mental health and self-help tips in your feed. And even if you’re not an active user of any platform, chances are you’ve already noticed psychology vocabulary in everyday conversations with friends.

Terms like “gaslighting”, “red flags”, “toxic behavior” or “anxiety triggers” and even clinical terminologies like “narcissism”, “trauma” or “ADHD” have become hashtags on social media, entering our daily conversations .

It often seems like mental health is one of the most prevalent topics on the networks.

For Halley Pontes, a psychologist at Birkbeck, University of London, this could be an opportunity, as more people are becoming aware of mental health.

“It can lead to greater understanding and empathy for those who suffer from mental health issues,” he said.

The popularity of these topics on the internet is also “a sign that people prefer to be more open and direct when it comes to discussing mental health issues, rather than hiding them as an embarrassing problem”, points out German psychologist Angelina Hahn.

In addition, health professionals themselves use social networks to share content on psychological issues, reaching millions of users.

However, as the boundary between influencers and mental health professionals becomes more blurred, challenges and potential problems arise.

A 2021 study that analyzed the top 100 most popular TikTok videos about ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) concluded that more than half of them were misleading.

The videos with the highest interaction rates were based on personal stories and did not contain any appeals to encourage users to seek professional help. Only 21% of the analyzed videos were helpful and informative, most of them shared by mental health professionals and organizations.

The self-diagnosis problems

Pontes pointed out that acquiring general knowledge about psychological concepts can increase a person’s self-awareness and help him recognize patterns in his behavior, thoughts and emotions. But this, he ponders, also has its limitations and can sometimes be misleading.

For a long time, Sina, a 30-year-old sales agent who wishes to remain anonymous, believed she had “ADHD or a similar concentration disorder.”

“This idea didn’t just come from social networks, I also read articles from credible sources on the subject”, he said.

However, after being exposed to a constant stream of content about ADHD and attention-related disorders, she began to detect many similarities between what she was feeling and what she read on the internet as symptoms of ADHD.

Finally, he ended up seeking professional help, even considering the need to take medication.

But to his surprise, the psychiatrists said that his concentration problems were not related to any attention deficit disorder.

“In the end, my difficulty concentrating had other reasons, which I later discovered and resolved through therapy sessions,” Sina said.

According to Hahn, acquiring knowledge about mental health issues can serve as an initial step, but it is not enough.

“As human beings, we tend to think the best or the worst of ourselves,” he explains. “So if we try to learn about our problems on our own, we can develop a distorted understanding of them.”

Furthermore, while learning about psychology provides some generalized knowledge, “only a mental health professional can offer personalized advice, therapeutic interventions, and strategies based on each individual’s unique circumstances,” Pontes clarifies.

Very simplified information

While social media can raise our awareness of mental health, it can have adverse side effects.

In order to make the information easier to consume, some content creators may end up disclosing overly shallow explanations of complex mental health disorders. The casual use of terminologies from the field of psychology can result in misunderstandings in relation to the real concepts.

“For example, someone might claim they have OCD [abreviatura de transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo] because he likes things tidy, which trivializes and distorts the experience of someone who really has obsessive-compulsive disorder”, observes Pontes.

Seeing other people openly discussing their mental health may convince some people that their problem is “common” and therefore “may accept terms as descriptors, which may deter some people from seeking professional help.” , said Heinrich Dürscheid, member of the Professional Association of German Psychologists (BDP, for its German acronym).

How to distinguish good content

Social media algorithms can also amplify unreliable mental health content. So how can we distinguish the good videos and texts on the topic?

Before you decide to follow an account that shares content about mental health, it’s crucial to check the credibility of the sources. “Look up the names of content creators and make sure you’re following graduates with valid credentials,” recommends Hahn.

She acknowledges, however, that this is increasingly difficult, “especially as there are many quack psychologists and self-proclaimed life coaches who may present seemingly legitimate profiles on their websites or LinkedIn accounts.”

According to Pontes, reliable content on mental health is honest about the complexity of mental disorders and symptoms, their origins and even the science behind them.

“Be wary of statements that generalize complex mental health topics in overly simplistic terms or suggest that a single solution works for everyone.”

He also cautions against posts that use sensational language, clickbait headlines, or make exaggerated claims.

“This often indicates a priority on getting views or followers over providing accurate information,” he said. “Be skeptical of claims that promise immediate results or easy solutions.”

The rejection of conventional treatments is another sign to be taken into account, according to Pontes.

“Alternative treatments can be valuable for some people, but be wary of content that completely dismisses conventional treatments,” he said.

He also said that “sales pitches” must generate distrust. According to him, as these mental health-related terms become fashionable, there is a possibility that they will be co-opted for commercial purposes, reducing the seriousness of the approach and potentially exploiting vulnerable groups.

According to him, people should be wary of content that heavily promotes or sells products, services or courses with miracle cures or quick fixes.

“As the saying goes, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is”, summarizes Pontes.