Within a few minutes of scrolling through TikTok, the algorithm more familiar with my likes and my interests and my neuroses than my own mother, I’ve absorbed so many pieces of information about mental health that I barely notice that’s what they are.
There’s a woman who says her mother is a narcissist who wouldn’t respect her boundaries and who ruined her wedding.
Who needs mental health experts when there are hundreds of people offering advice from the palm of your hand?Credit: Getty
There’s an influencer who says he’s traumatised by the onslaught of abuse from his followers. It’s triggering, he says. Because of his lived experience.
There’s a 22-year-old sharing the three signs that mean you definitely have ADHD. A mum recalling the moment she received her autism diagnosis. A guy whose voice booms over inspirational music as he proclaims the power of doing “the work”.
I don’t know what “the work” is, who assigned it, who assesses it, or what happens when you complete it, but apparently everyone is doing it. It’s become the cultural shorthand for figuring yourself out.
For a long time, doing “the work” probably included enlisting the help of a psychologist or some other trained professional who might help you identify your thoughts and behaviours, and how they might impact the people around you. Now it’s as simple as listening to self-improvement podcasts, reading the latest book from Mel Robbins or Gabor Mate, or, as I am right now, consuming social media content about mental health.
The problem, of course, is that most of this social media content is wrong.
Last month, a Guardian UK investigation found that of the top 100 videos posted under the #mentalhealthtips hashtag on TikTok, 52 contained misinformation, and many others were vague or unhelpful.
When psychologists, psychiatrists and academic experts were consulted on the messages and advice put forward by creators, they expressed grave concerns. They argued the videos may create confusion about complex conditions, could pathologise everyday experiences and emotions, and might leave people feeling like failures when unsubstantiated “tips” don’t work.