By Malynn Kuangparichat, Psy.D., J.D.

Back in the Fall, we had a staff meeting at our practice in Kennett Square and one of the big topics that came up was social media and mental health, and how it relates to people getting information from social media and risks of self-diagnosing.

Social media is an overload of information, and self-diagnosis is on the rise, especially when it comes to mental health and social media posts such as influencers, AI-generated content, and other sources who aren’t licensed mental health professionals.

This is one reason we’re passionate about sharing accurate mental health information on our social media feeds.

With that said, social media is a platform for people to connect, share our common humanity, and follow our favorite sports teams (go Kansas City Royal’s!).

But it’s crucial to be a mindful social media consumer because mental health is complex and there are risks when you stop at self-diagnosis based on social media of ADHD, OCD, depression, anxiety and so on.

That’s why we offer a variety of psychological testing that takes on different shapes and forms. With the complexity of mental health, the various psychological assessments can help us get a more comprehensive and holistic snapshot of you as an individual within the framework of psychological, academic, social or behavioral functioning.

So, in today’s blog, you’ll learn more about how social media influences mental health understanding, particularly self-diagnosis, and the importance of psychological testing, screening, and professional evaluations.

The Rise of Mental Health Information on Social Media

You may have noticed more conversations around mental health on popular platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter). These conversations have raised awareness and reduced stigma around mental health, especially in our post-COVID years.

However, there’s a vast amount of mental health content out there that can be overwhelming and confusing for social media users, such as misinformation or “one-sided” information. There’s also a lack of regulation and oversight of mental health advice on social media platforms.

For example, this American Psychological Association article shares research that indicates “people tend to share and engage more with false or low-quality information they encounter online, compared with factual information (Allen, J., Integrity Institute, October 13, 2022; Vosoughi, S., et al., Science, Vol. 359, No. 6380, 2018). 

That’s likely because it’s designed to be engaging and often has an emotional pull. Social media companies have little incentive to police content if it means removing users and advertising dollars from their bottom line.”

As you’re scrolling, it’s important to remember that social media companies want as many people’s eyes on their platform and aren’t so much concerned with the integrity of the content.

What’s more, algorithms on social media platforms are designed to funnel content that matches your interests and behaviors which creates an “echo chamber” effect, as Jennifer Katzensteing, Ph.D., director of Psychology and co-director of the Center for Behavioral Health at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, discusses in this article that you only get content related to your mental health concerns due to this echo chamber effect created by the algorithm.

Besides misinformation and the algorithm’s effect, social media influencers and users are more frequently using mental health terms like “ADHD,” “anxiety,” and “depression,” and may be giving medical advice that’s not based in science, research, or best practices from professional psychologists or therapists. 

As I had mentioned, we’re passionate about normalizing talk around mental health, and because there is more talk and general information around these topics, you’ll want to train yourself to notice and take appropriate action when you’re on your favorite social media platforms.

Influenced by relatable content on social media, self-diagnosis is becoming more common, and here’s what you need to know about the risks of self-diagnosing ADHD, depression, or any mental health illness based on social media mental health content.

The Dangers of Self-Diagnosis

Self-diagnosis is a starting point to support you in your mental health journey. But without professional support, self-diagnosis can lead to misunderstandings, misidentification of conditions, or neglect of underlying issues.

When it comes to social media content, terms like “bipolar,” “OCD,” or “Borderline personality disorder” are often oversimplified and overgeneralized in online discussions which then leads to a lack of understanding of the complexities with these diagnoses.

You run the risk of cherry-picking symptoms from different conditions, leading to confusion.

What ends up happening is you self-diagnose yourself and it increases feelings of anxiety or leads to a sense of hopelessness if you self-diagnose with a mental health illness that you don’t fully understand.

You also run into the danger of “confirmation bias,” where you focus only on information that aligns with your self-diagnosis, and neglect broader perspectives.

When you self-diagnose, you can also end up delaying access to appropriate interventions and potentially worsen the condition, develop a false sense of identity because your behaviors are actually on the typical end of functioning, and trying to self-correct that doesn’t get to the underlying cause of your presenting behaviors. 

The Importance and Benefits of Psychological Testing, Screening, and Evaluations

This is why there’s a wide variety of professional testing to understand your presenting mental health concerns, including screeners, conversational interviews, and questionnaire-type forms. 

At our practice, we walk you through the results to help you better understand the diagnosis and recommendations. During this time, you can ask any clarifying questions or bring up any additional concerns. 

Importantly to note, we draw from your strengths, integrating them into practical, personalized recommendations as identified by the findings of your evaluation. 

Essentially, you’re not left in the dark. We speak with you about our treatment recommendations, and provide you with a copy of the report with your eval results for reference. 

Our comprehensive evaluations allow us to walk you through why you may meet criteria for a diagnosis, and why you don’t meet criteria for a different diagnosis. We also discuss what to monitor for (e.g., if signs are showing up but it’s not quite fully there yet).

And that’s how the evaluations direct our recommendations, including supplemental resources to help you along your journey, such as books, apps, etc.

If you want to learn more about what psychological testing looks like, please head over to our blog article, 3 Things to Know About Psychological and Psycho-Educational Testing.

How to Use Social Media Mindfully

We’ve all fallen into the trap of mindless doom scrolling on social media (that’s what these platforms want you to do). When it comes to mindful social media consumption, I invite you to consider this quote from Tony Robbins:

“Whatever you hold in your mind on a consistent basis is exactly what you will experience in your life.”

You have the power to filter what you see, hear, and experience on social media with your own filtration system.

Here are some easy ways to filter any mental health content you see on social media.

Understand where the information is coming from

Misinformation spreads like wildfire on social media so beware. In fact, it spreads more widely than accurate health information in the online spaces (more research needs to be done on specifically mental health information on social media). 

The first thing you can filter is understanding where the information is coming from.

Ask yourself, “Is it coming from a credible and reputable source?”

If the information is referenced in sources such as NIMH, APA, Psychology Today, then you can most likely trust the information. Make sure to cross-reference by doing a quick google search to see if the mental health information comes up in credible and reputable sources.

If the social media post quotes an expert as supporting evidence, then check to see if the person is a qualified licensed professional with social proof and credentials. 

Fact-check the resource

Whenever you see a recommended resource (e.g., podcast episode, book, article, person, etc) or statistic, do a quick google search to fact-check the resource or stat. If you can’t find any information easily, then you may need to question the reliability of the source. 

Look out for red flags

You can identify red flags that indicate potential misinformation or oversimplified information on social media. Here’s what you ask yourself anytime you get mental health content in a social media post:

• Did they mention any credible and reputable sources? (e.g., NIMH, APA, Psychology Today, or a licensed professional with social proof and credentials, etc)
• Are they using excessive emotional language?
• Are they making big claims or quick fixes?
• Do they have supporting evidence for their claims?
• Is the information on ADHD, OCD, or any other mental health illness oversimplified or overgeneralized?
• Are they using outdated information? When was the publication date of any referenced sources?

Verify stats with a quick online search

Before accepting something as true, do your due diligence and do a quick google search of any mental health statistics mentioned in social media posts. See if the stats come up in your search and the source of the information. Statistics and data can be easily manipulated to fit a claim so use discernment to verify.

Your Mental Health Journey is Individualized

Mental health is complex, and your mental health journey is an individualized path. Please seek professional support for creating lasting well-being that meets your exact needs and addresses the underlying causes of your mental health symptoms.

While social media is an opportunity to normalize mental health discussions and break the stigma, make sure to mindfully consume mental health information on social media platforms. Follow accounts that promote evidence-based practices, self-compassion, and provide a realistic portrayal of mental health (without oversimplifying or overgeneralizing diagnosis like ADHD, OCD, Bipolar Disorder, etc).

Social media can be a source of support, but should not replace professional guidance, so we invite you to consult with a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist for an accurate diagnosis.

There is so much value in an evaluation when it comes to finding solutions to your mental health needs. Moreover, in our practice, we look to your strengths and passions in order to develop a customized plan that works for you.

Please reach out and contact us if you’re interested to learn more about our psychological testing services.

More Resources

Podcast: “Are We Talking About Therapy Too Much?” by Good on Paper 

Blog: 3 Things to Know About Psychological and Psycho-Educational Testing

Article: How to reverse the alarming trend of health misinformation

More on Social Media and Self-Diagnosis for Youth: Social Media and Self Diagnosis 

*Disclaimer: The contents of this blog does not constitute a clinical relationship or replace the need for professional services.

Contact Us

Here at CCWB, we value our clients and acknowledge the courage it takes to seek professional mental health support.

Chester County Well-Being (CCWB) provides a range of mental health services to ensure we meet our community’s needs. We serve individuals, couples, and families in the Chester County area. Reach out to us here.

Our specializations include:

• Stress Management
• Addiction & Recovery
• Therapy for Depression and Anxiety
• AD/HD
• Work and Career issues
• Parenting Support
• Family Counseling
• Couples Counseling
• Conflict Resolution
• Grief Counseling

Teletherapy

All our clinicians provide safe and secure teletherapy sessions to anyone residing in PA. Additionally, we provide telehealth options for residents of other states, depending on the clinician. Simply head to our About Us page, and click each clinician’s “read more” tab for telehealth details.

Telepsychology services are provided by Dr. Kuangparichat and Dr. Stern to clients who reside in a state that participates in PSYPACT. Find out if your state is on the list of participating states HERE.

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About the Author

Malynn Kuangparichat, Psy.D., J.D. is founder and psychologist at Chester County Well-Being.  

She has a collaborative approach that results in highly tailored evaluations intended to meet her clients’ unique needs. She focuses on an individual’s strengths, which are integrated in the practical, personalized recommendations identified by the findings of an evaluation. 

In her free time, she enjoys running, spending time with family and friends, and getting ice cream or doughnuts from the local shops.