Elsa Angel Rose
A multitude of influencers and content creators sharing life advice, mental health tips, and wellness content are abundant on social media, often branding themselves as ‘mental health gurus,’ ‘life coaches,’ or ‘wellness influencers.’ The real crisis amidst the abundance is figuring out which voice to listen to, which video to watch, and what advice to follow. “Just cut off anyone who disturbs your peace”, “You don’t owe anyone anything”, “Turning every unpleasant experience into trauma”, “Just journal, meditate, and go for a walk”, are a few of the common mantras of self-proclaimed mental health gurus. It is not that such advice is entirely wrong or right. It is the generalised nature of such advice that can be confusing for the follower, especially when it concerns mental health, something which requires utmost personalised care. “Often, I’ve come across such videos where an influencer or content creator shares tips on mental health. Trying to socialise and getting out of the house, taking breaks from social media, disabling notifications, and stopping the habit of ‘doomscrolling’, as easy as it may sound, this can get really difficult and, in a way, impractical in the case of a corporate employee or a student, who is constantly working online. Boundary Setting is also one of the frequently shared pieces of advice: learning to say ‘no’ to protect your peace, cutting off ‘toxic’ relationships, and prioritising your own energy. Although a really good and healthy thing to practice, it can get really difficult if a person is conditioned against it throughout their life,” shared Neha Laximan Gauns Gaunkar, a youngster from Corlim.
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MENTAL HEALTH CONVERSATIONS ARE GROWING, SO IS MISINFORMATION Social media has played a pivotal role in making mental health conversations mainstream, but while they became mainstream, there came, in fact, an abundance of such information, and due to a lack of awareness of how to navigate through this influx of information, misinformation spreads. “Social media has played an important role in raising awareness and encouraging open conversations about mental well-being. But I believe mental health advice on social media can be reliable, provided it comes from qualified and credible professionals,” shared Syble Ursula Dias, another youngster from Santa Cruz. Something that is common among such mental health content is how generalised the advice is and how they are based on engagement, relatability, and buzzwords. Such videos cater to the short attention span of viewers and are made to go trending, not to solve one particular person’s troubles. “For a video to perform well, it needs to give the viewer something they can do immediately, and something generalised, and some catchy video titles like ‘5 signs you have ADHD’ to grab the attention of viewers. Secondly, using trending terminology, words like ‘gaslighting’, ‘trauma response’, ‘burnout’, ‘boundaries’, and ‘narcissist’ have been entirely universalised,” said Neha. Such keywords can help content gain traction in the algorithm, even when they are used out of context or incorrectly.
ONLINE ADVICE SHOULD NOT REPLACE PROFESSIONAL ADVICE
There is nothing erroneous about listening to mental health advice videos, but they should never replace professional help, nor should they serve as the basis for self-diagnosis. “Given the growing influence of social media in our daily lives, influencers and content creators can surely help raise awareness about mental health. However, their advice should not replace professional guidance. Mental health concerns are often complex and highly individual, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another. Influencers and content creators definitely play a valuable role in reducing stigma and encouraging conversations around mental health. But it is imperative to view any online content as a source of general information only, rather than any form of diagnosis or treatment,” said Kripa, RCI licensed clinical psychologist from Bambolim. The rise of mental health content on social media has led to the oversimplification and, at times, glorification of mental disorders, terms and conditions associated with them. “While online mental health content has definitely helped in reducing some stigma, it has also just oversimplified complex psychological concerns into easily consumable content designed to capture attention. Social media is designed for engagement, but mental health experiences exist on a spectrum and are often influenced by a range of personal and relational factors that may not be fully captured in brief online content,” said Kripa. What happens when mental health terms, labels or disorders are glorified or oversimplified through social media? Kripa replied, “Misinterpretation of symptoms, self-diagnosis, or delays in seeking professional help.” Seeking professional help from qualified mental health professionals when needed is the ideal scenario.
HOW TO IDENTIFY CREDIBLE MENTAL HEALTH INFORMATION ONLINE “This can be done through verifying the person’s or page’s profile. Most often, mental health specialists will have their qualifications listed in their bios and should have their proper credentials mentioned. When it comes to psychology pages (that spread awareness and make infographics), one should make sure that they are well informed by firstly seeing if they are well established and then proceeding to understand where they get their information from, thus checking if their sources are credible,” shared Sharika Fernandes, a psychologist from Panjim. Remember to check the qualifications of the person imparting the mental health knowledge. “Anyone giving mental health advice to a large online audience should ideally hold a recognised and valid license obtained after completing a designated master’s, doctoral, or diploma program, such as those required to become a clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, or licensed counsellor,” said Sharika. Completing a master’s is not enough to practice as a clinical psychologist in India. One has to be registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI). Hence, certification and a license are significant.
LOOK OUT FOR RED FLAGS IN ANY ONLINE MENTAL HEALTH CONTENT
“Creators that provide you with ‘quick fixes’ not backed by any research, who also fail to take into account the severity of your problem, those who do not disclose their professional credentials, or even attempt to diagnose their audience while lacking any substance, all point to important red flags for individuals, and they should be extremely wary of this information,” said Sharika. She added, “It is important to understand the gravity of seeking out mental health information online, and clients should keep in mind that professionals will provide them with the information that caters to all their needs, so please keep a lookout for these common red flags you may fail to miss.” Family, friends, peers, and other forms of social support play a huge role in a person’s life and can be incredibly helpful when it comes to managing mental health. While they may not have the professional training or skills to provide psychological treatment, the support, understanding, and validation they offer can make a world of difference. While social media can be a valuable tool for mental health awareness, learning to distinguish credible information from viral content is essential in ensuring that awareness does not turn into misinformation. The goal is not to stop consuming mental health content online, but to engage with it responsibly, recognising its limits and seeking professional help when needed.
