VIMHS
Vancouver Island Mental Health Society
Psychologist flags trend of social media inspired self-diagnosis
Psychologist flags trend of social media inspired self-diagnosis
Psychologist flags trend of social media inspired self-diagnosis
Saturday 12th October 2024
Psychologist Christine Korol discusses the risks of self-diagnosing mental health conditions based on social media content and offers practical advice.
22 minutes
Informative
Cautionary
Supportive
Engaging
Educational
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Get the buttons here!The Dangers of Social Media Self-Diagnosis: Insights from a Psychologist
Episode Overview
- Self-diagnosing based on social media can lead to unnecessary worry and misdiagnosis.
- Professional diagnosis is crucial for accurate treatment.
- Social contagion can cause collective panic over common symptoms.
- Check the credentials of online sources sharing mental health information.
- Not all mental health content on social media is harmful, but caution is advised.
If it's designed to create fear and engage you, then take it with a grain of salt and try to go to more trusted sources
Ever wondered if those TikTok videos about mental health are actually helpful? In this episode of People First Radio, Vancouver-based psychologist Christine Korol dives into the growing trend of social media-inspired self-diagnosis. Korol explains how platforms like TikTok and Instagram, while raising awareness about mental health, can also lead to unintended consequences. She highlights how people often diagnose themselves or others based on online information, which can cause unnecessary worry, misdiagnosis, and even harmful self-treatments.
Korol shares anecdotes about waves of self-diagnosed conditions, such as a surge in teenagers claiming to have Tourette's syndrome after watching specific influencers. She stresses the importance of seeking professional help for accurate diagnosis and treatment rather than relying on potentially misleading online content. Korol also discusses the phenomenon of 'social contagion,' where symptoms spread like a virus through social media, leading to a collective panic.
For those worried about their mental health, Korol advises checking the credentials of the person sharing information and looking for reputable sources. She emphasises that not all mental health content on social media is bad but urges caution when consuming it. This episode is a must-listen for anyone concerned about the impact of social media on mental health and looking for trustworthy advice.