Do we talk to much about Mental Health?

Mental health has become a central subject in childhood and adolescence, with people narrating their psychiatric diagnosis and treatment on TikTok and Instagram. School systems are seemingly introducing preventive coursework in emotional self-regulation and mindfulness. Could we be overdoing it? Studies seem to suggest so.

While these efforts undoubtedly help some young people recognize and address genuine mental health issues, recent studies suggest they may also have unintended consequences. The pervasive nature of mental health campaigns could lead some individuals to over-interpret their symptoms, potentially leaving them to see themselves as more troubled than they are. The normalization of mental health conditions in social media discourse, coupled with humor about disorders like anxiety, depression, ADHD, and autism, has also contributed to a rise in self-diagnosis. That's not to say that those are the root of the issue, information and a growing depth of understanding helps equip individuals with the knowledge to recognize signs in themselves and others, and to seek appropriate help when needed, but when it comes down to the youth it can almost seem trendy to be a part of the “nero-spicy” club.

Adolescence is a crucial period for identity formation and self-discovery, where seeking validation and understanding come first and foremost. Social media provides a platform for relatable content that fosters a sense of belonging but can also blur the line between typical emotional fluctuations and signs of clinical disorders. With psychiatrists reporting that teen patients are mentioning content from social media often discussing how they feel they have certain symptoms. This at times leads to a misunderstanding of a diagnosis or over-analyzing of a symptom that is within the range of typical behaviors. A study done in the United States shows that among young people, “self-labeling” is associated with poor coping skills, such as avoidance and with social media algorithms almost pushing it and influencers creating dialogue around it completely unregulated it makes it hard to ignore the idea that you might have something you don’t.

A paper published in 2023 by Lucy Foulkes and Jack Andrews(two research psychologists at the University of Oxford) hypothesized that awareness efforts are contributing to this reported increase in mental health problems. With it seemingly delaying access to appropriate interventions, occasionally worsening the individual's condition or making them feel something is wrong when it is actually on the typical end of functioning or ‘normal’. This is why it’s always important to monitor your emotions when you look at content. Recognize when content doesn’t make you feel better and, and whenever possible, only follow people you know in your everyday life.

Stepping away from studies and entering the realm of arguments of why we might want to pause discourse about mental health or slow down talks about it. If we focus too much on mental health, it might divert attention and resources away from other pressing issues. While mental health is crucial, so are many other societal challenges such as poverty, education, and environmental issues. The overemphasis on mental health could, and is overshadowing these areas in terms of public discourse and policy-making. We are also at risk that this excessive focus on mental health right now might absolve individuals of personal responsibility. While mental health conditions are valid and in some cases support, there's also a danger in portraying everyone's challenges solely through the lens of mental health, potentially neglecting personal responsibility, and on note there's the fact that it can lead to a medicalization of normal human emotions and experiences. Everyone goes through periods of stress, sadness, or anxiety, but not all of these experiences need clinical intervention.

Ultimately, while raising awareness and reducing stigma are important, it's essential to ensure that these efforts do not unintentionally contribute to misinterpretations, over-medicalization, or override of other societal issues.

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