Can Social Media be Good?
Are social media sites really a positive influence on mental health?Most articles you’ll find online are pointing fingers towards social media in a negative way, regarding mental health. One thing people may not think to look at, is how far we as humans have come, in spreading the word about mental health. For so many years it has been such a taboo topic and social media sites have been an amazing source for getting information about mental illness viral.
Charities
The charity Mind has a great online presence and with both Facebook posts and tweets, they share information not only on the charity itself, but also about different kinds of mental illnesses and their causes, providing help for both family and friends and for the person in need of help themselves.
Celebrities, Vloggers and Bloggers
Along with charities like Mind, many bloggers, vloggers and celebrities with a large social media presence have been sharing experiences, both personal and of friends and family to help others realise that they are not alone; issues as simple as a broken arm can be as a common as certain minor mental illnesses but just as damaging.
Youtube
Zoella is a very popular youtube vlogger who often mentions her anxiety and panic attacks, posting videos such as ‘Dealing with Panic Attacks’ and ‘Anxiety Q&A’. In these videos, this vlogger not only shares her stories, helping others to not feel alone and know that what’s going on is totally normal, but also shares with her viewers, what she has done herself to try to deal and help with her mental illness.
Is it Damaging?
With this widespread sharing of knowledge of mental health and mental illnesses, one could argue that it is can also be more damaging to young people. Many adolescents will see this information and relate in some way. A lot of people would agree that they can worry about silly things, have days where they are miserable or generally don’t feel that great in their own shoes. For many this then may relate to some problem with their mental health, but for others, it may be a simple scapegoat to either help themselves look or seem more vulnerable to others and so get unnecessary sympathy or attention.
Bunking Off School
This may seem like a ghastly thought but think about children ‘bunking off’ school or adults ‘calling in sick’ from work has been going on for a long time, using an illness to get away with not having to do something they don’t want to do and/or get sympathy and attention from others. Knowledge of different mental illnesses and their symptoms could possibly mean that they too are used as scape goat illnesses for missing work, with mental illness then becoming less significant.
Let me know what you think is more important: spreading the knowledge of mental illness and helping fight stigmas surrounding it, or influencing others to become ‘sufferers’, ‘fakers’ and ‘doubters’.
More on spreading the word about mental health on social media and the web –
Blogs, Vlogs and Celebrities.
Please consider the following resources if you are, or if you have a friend who is suffering:
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