The risks of self-diagnosing mental health issues using social media

Therefore, it’s no surprise that using "Doctor Google" to research and self-diagnose health conditions has become normalized – a survey in the US showed that 89% of participants consulted Google before seeing a doctor.

As highly social creatures, we seek belonging and acceptance, gravitating towards like-minded peers, particularly during adolescence. Participating in trends helps provide solidarity, and one of the more recent is discussing and sharing mental health experiences on social media, turning platforms like TikTok and Instagram into virtual diagnostic centers.

Given the vulnerability of those experiencing such issues, how did openly sharing deeply personal information with thousands of online strangers become commonplace? What are the risks, and are there any benefits?

The 2020 global pandemic brought about an unprecedented rise in poor mental health, and many mental health practitioners, unable to consult with patients in person, started sharing their professional expertise online. Concurrently, influencers – despite having little or no mental health training themselves – began sharing their therapists’ advice with their followers, leading to the phenomenon known as “social media therapy” or “Instagram therapy.”

Mental health (and its complex associated issues) is unique to each individual; therefore, even advice or information given online by professionals with years of training and experience, can only ever be general and educational in nature.

Influencers, despite having a large following, often lack the authority to offer mental health advice. Even with the best of intentions, the fact remains that their main goal is to increase their profile by engaging with their followers.

Additionally, their content on the topic may be influenced by sponsorships, endorsements, or personal motives, potentially causing their followers more harm than good. One example is YouTuber Tricia Paytas, who diagnosed herself with dissociative identity disorder (DID), not only spreading misinformation but insulting genuine sufferers.

Providing a platform where users can speak openly about mental health within a public forum does help reduce the stigma surrounding these issues, enabling individuals to feel less alone in their psychological struggles; however, the risks often outweigh the benefits, particularly when advice given without qualification causes harm through misdiagnosis.

Young people can sometimes become so focused on making sense of their own emotions that they will resonate with one or two aspects of a particular mental health condition being discussed on social media, then mold the rest of their "symptoms" to fit that diagnosis. Others who don't match a specific diagnosis well enough may wonder what's wrong with them or engage in online behaviors like sadfishing to get the validation they seek.

Some users may correctly identify the presence of a few psychological symptoms but fail to recognize the signs of a more serious condition, and some may decline to seek professional help altogether, thinking that the online advice from a peer or an influencer they admire is all they need.

Conversely, uninformed users may accuse those with a confirmed diagnosis or genuine symptoms of fakeclaiming for attention, often causing further harm to those already vulnerable.

Posting about these serious conditions through romanticized memes is referred to as "beautiful suffering" by mental health professional, Aditi Verma. Content of this nature can downplay the seriousness of mental illness and negate the struggles experienced by diagnosed sufferers.

Additionally, the power of social media to shape behavior and opinion on a massive scale has resulted in more people (not just those suffering from specific mental health issues) becoming aware of the importance of prioritizing their own wellbeing. It has now become an integral consideration for many areas of everyday life.

Generally speaking, advice given about mental health online should be used for interest and education, as a starting point for further research, or to support those with existing mental health diagnoses.

There are multiple responsible influencers who post on the topic of mental health issues and posts on the topic in a mindful, intentional way, careful to consult with licensed professionals to ensure she steers clear of giving clinical advice.

Many social media platforms have started to recognize their impact on mental health, introducing features to help. TikTok has created stricter content guidelines and search interventions, directing users searching for potentially harmful content to local support resources as well as developing a Wellbeing Guide for engaging with others about mental health and wellbeing online. Similarly, Pinterest's Haven consists of curated content focusing on mental health and wellbeing.

The intersection of social media and mental health is complex. While social media can be a helpful platform when used safely and responsibly to improve awareness and reduce the stigma often associated with mental illness, it should complement, not replace, professional care.