We analysed 14 million Reddit posts to reveal a striking shift in how we talk about mental health |
More people are relying on social media – such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Reddit – to learn about mental health conditions and to interact with people who have shared experiences.
These aren’t only long-familiar disorders such as depression, anxiety and schizophrenia. They also include conditions often placed under the “neurodivergent” umbrella such as autism, ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder), Tourette syndrome and dyslexia.
For instance, on TikTok the hashtag #adhd has had more than 50 billion views.
We wanted to explore how social media platforms shape how we understand mental health. So we analysed more than 14 million posts and comments about mental health on Reddit.
We show a shift in conversations toward ADHD and autism, and away from anxiety and depression.
Our findings have important implications for how people make sense of, and seek help for, mental health problems.
A complex relationship
Social media coverage of mental health has made it more visible, with some positive effects. It has probably reduced the stigma of mental illness and increased the use of mental health services.
However, it also has downsides. It can induce or exacerbate eating disorders, can contribute to the spread of symptoms (such as tic-like behaviours), and has been attributed to the rise of questionable........