Written by: Abbey Cerny, LMHC

TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and other social media platforms have become well-known staples on many individual’s phones. As these apps become more popular, more information is being shared and consumed by all types of people. While this has had many positive effects on the topic of mental health, the increase in mental health information online has created negative impacts as well. One app that has become more popular in recent years is TikTok, which features looping videos that are typically short, less than 1 minute. Users can simply swipe to quickly populate a new video. The never ending stream of fast paced videos and information is what is desirable about the app, but this does not leave much room for nuance. As more adolescents turn to TikTok and other online communities for support, mental health providers are reporting an increase in individuals, mostly teens and young adults, diagnosing themselves with mental health disorders from information provided on online platforms. A New York Times article titled ‘Teens Turn to TikTok in Search of a Mental Health Diagnosis’ reported that some individuals seek mental health information online because authority figures in their lives are unwilling or unable to discuss the topic, but in other cases it has become trendy among some adolescents and teens to identify with a mental health disorder and wear it as a badge of honor.

Because of the increase in self-diagnosing mental health disorders online, social media seems to be turning into the “WebMD for mental health,” according to Counseling Today. While there are definitely benefits to increasing awareness and knowledge around mental health, many complications around self-diagnosing from social media have come up. Information provided about mental health disorders in social media videos is often presented in a vague and overly simplistic way, similarly to a horoscope, which results in most people feeling that they can relate to the video in some way. Often, this causes the individual to begin to wonder if they have the mentioned disorder, which can trigger a cascade of positive or negative reactions. What is often left out of the quick and easy-to-consume videos is the nuances that go into determining a mental health diagnosis. Individuals often interpret the presence of certain symptoms to mean that they have a specific disorder, but there is not that kind of relationship in diagnosing a mental health disorder; the presence of certain symptoms does not necessarily indicate a particular disorder. Diagnosing is complicated because the same symptoms do not apply the same way to each age group, gender, or race. It can also be difficult to be self-aware of certain symptoms and the full range of experiences are considered when a professional is making a formal diagnosis, such as duration, frequency, and intensity of symptoms. Additionally, in order for an official diagnosis to be made, there has to be a negative impact in an area of the person’s life, such as work, personal life, or school. This means, for example, that if an individual is very organized and keeps their space clean and tidy, they do not necessarily have OCD unless keeping up with cleaning/organizing rituals impedes on personal relationships, work, or managing other important tasks.

Utilizing unfiltered social media platforms for mental health information can result in faulty self-diagnoses and making decisions based on inaccurate information, including potentially harmful recommendations. Information is often being presented by influencers rather than individuals who are licensed professionals and posts frequently do not stress the importance of professional assessments. Because social media influencers want to increase views on their content, information is often presented in a way that most people feel they can relate to the content, even if it is inaccurate, which keeps users watching. Social media algorithms can contribute to inaccurate self-diagnosis by continuing to provide users with information related to the videos they may already be resonating with. For example, if someone self-diagnoses themself with OCD via TikTok, the platform is likely to continue showing videos about OCD because the user has demonstrated an interest in those videos in the past.

Sometimes individuals seek to receive an official diagnosis that matches their self-diagnosis and this can create a feeling among providers of competing with TikTok. Often, the individuals who are seeking confirmation of their self-diagnosis are not aware of the long-term impacts of mental health diagnoses, such as impacting future life insurance policies or security clearances for jobs. Additionally, self-diagnosis can create a nocebo effect, which is when someone develops negative symptoms or side affects because they expect them to occur with the diagnosis they have assigned themself. In other words, individuals may unconsciously create symptoms, feed into, or engage in behaviors to confirm a disorder because they have internalized this information as factual. Making disorders “trendy,” over-simplifying information, and self-diagnosing takes away from the seriousness of the struggles for the individuals who truly have the disorder, which can contribute to stigmas around certain disorders.

Although there are many concerns surrounding unfiltered mental health information online, there are also many benefits that have come about from this unrestricted access. First, it’s easier to access mental health information as the prevalence of quick facts, symptoms, and quizzes increases online. This helps to reduce gatekeeping around information that was not readily available to the general public in the past and can help increase individuals’ mental health knowledge and awareness. The infinite amount of unfiltered information can also serve to illustrate the reality of disorders and decrease stigma as they see and hear from individuals with various disorders. Learning about mental health information online can help to normalize mental health and also empower individuals to feel less alone knowing that others have similar experiences. Finding a supportive online community can be powerful and life changing, especially for those in marginalized communities or those who lack access to resources. Additionally, it can also help individuals find the words to describe their symptoms or experiences. Individuals may want a diagnosis or language they can relate to because it allows them to label an experience they have been having and it explains what has been going on for them. Learning about mental health information can also direct individuals towards the help that they need, such as to professional services. By learning about symptoms of negative impacts of a disorder, an individual may gain awareness of their own struggles and seek professional help.

An article by the Camber Children’s Mental Health organization lists several things both mental health professionals and individuals in the community can do to lean into the benefits of mental health information and support online while being cautious of the potential negative impacts. First, individuals should learn the difference between an expert and an influencer and learn to decipher individuals with reliable credentials. Second, it is important to understand what information to filter in and what to filter out. Making sure that the information you interpret as truth is coming from a licensed professional or accredited organization is important. Analyzing the intent behind information presented online can also help to give clues to the accuracy of the information. For example, is the poster looking to create views or are they looking to spread awareness, regardless of how many views they get. Remember to avoid comparing yourself to highlight reels that leave out so much information; rather, go to reliable sources to seek further information. It is so important for individuals to connect with a true mental health professional if they are struggling with mental health challenges or feel they could use support.

For the mental health professionals, it can be frustrating to have clients skip ahead and tell us what disorders they have. You may find yourself walking the line of validating and supporting a client’s experiences and beliefs while also dispelling inaccurate information they are basing their conclusions on. Some therapists may appreciate the self-awareness that social media can help create and those therapists may choose to focus on what they can learn from the client’s self-diagnosis. If we allow our frustrations to cloud our views of the client, we may miss out on beneficial information we may be able to draw from their self-diagnosis and clients may feel unvalidated and unsupported. Bringing in beliefs or ideas about symptoms and diagnosis to therapy sessions can provide an opportunity to discuss further relevant symptoms with clients. It is important for providers to take the time to explore the client’s self-diagnosis and validate their concerns and symptoms. Remain curious and open-minded about the client’s experience and ask questions about what it means to the client to have a specific diagnosis. It is also important to avoid reacting with disbelief or dismissiveness as this can cause the client to feel unsupported.

In reality, we all probably have traits from different disorders, including personality disorders, but receiving an official diagnosis requires a specific set of criteria. Having one or a few traits or symptoms of a disorder does not indicate having the disorder. Because of the potential for negative consequences and harm, it is important to exercise caution when consuming information about mental health online.

Mental health symptoms can be debilitating, but you shouldn’t have to suffer alone. If you are experiencing distressing symptoms or believe you could benefit from speaking to a mental health professional, feel free to reach out to us to schedule an appointment. Receiving accurate information about mental health is important in improving your experiences.

Citation:

Caron, C. (2022, October 29). Teens Turn to TikTok in Search of a Mental Health Diagnosis. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/29/well/mind/tiktok-mental-illness-diagnosis.html

Phillips, L. (2022, March 28). Self-diagnosis in a digital world. Counseling Today. https://ct.counseling.org/2022/03/self-diagnosis-in-a-digital-world/

‌Social Media Sparks Dangerous Trend of Mental Health Self-Diagnosing. (2022, July 6). Camber Children’s Mental Health. https://www.cambermentalhealth.org/2022/07/06/social-media-sparks-dangerous-trend-of-mental-health-self-diagnosing/