The Mental Health Cost of Cancel Culture

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The Mental Health Cost of Cancel Culture

November 27, 2024 | Lysa Kirby, LCPC | 2 min. read

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The Mental Health Cost of Cancel Culture

Cancel culture has become a prevalent topic in the digital realm.

Specifically, individuals are chastised or ostracized for their actions or options on a public scale. Accountability sets the foundation for emotional and mental growth, but the unyielding method of the cancel culture can be difficult on the psyche.

For those that are targeted the impact can be destructive. Enduring the act of being canceled out can lead to anxiety, depressive symptoms and in some extreme cases suicidal ideation can surface. The public scale of the criticism exacerbates the situation because the person is often subject to judgment from strangers and what’s posted on the internet leaves a permanent reminder.

Cancel culture can often influence the individual engaging in it as well.

The behavior of canceling can promote anxiety about one’s own possible mistakes. Moreover, this can form an atmosphere of individuals being fearful to convey their opinion. Also, the anger displayed within the cancel culture can often trigger emotional burnout and cynicism.

Social media fosters an environment that rewards negative behaviors versus constructive conversations. The anonymity of the online platform creates mob behavior thus increasing ill-thought decision-making and decreasing empathy for others.

To decrease mental health costs there needs to be an online refocus to conversations that are conducted respectfully and hold individuals accountable without harsh punishment. Additionally, conversations should shift to a willingness to improve and provide individuals with redemption and forgiveness versus fostering an atmosphere of fear or defensiveness, then labeling them as permanently bad.

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Social Media Misdiagnosis

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Social Media Misdiagnosis

February 7, 2024 | Vanessa Buonopane, Psy.D. | 7 min. read

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TikTok. Instagram. YouTube. What do all of these social media platforms have in common? They are wonderful for getting mass amounts of information out to people. One type of information provided is information related to mental health.

Although this is a great way to educate people on mental health disorders, it can also lead to self-diagnosis and, often, misdiagnosis.

So, what’s the problem?

While mental health clinicians want people to learn about their diagnoses and connect with others who share similar experiences, we also want you to take in accurate information about mental health diagnoses. One study examined the reach and accuracy of information on autism on TikTok, finding that “videos associated with the #Autism hashtag accrued 11.5 billion views collectively. An examination of the top 133 videos providing informational content on autismâ€¦showed that 27% of the videos were classified as accurate, while 41% were classified as inaccurate and 32% as overgeneralized. Videos created by healthcare professionals were more likely to include accurate information” (Aragon-Guevara, Castle, Sheridan, and Vivanti, 2023).

For instance, numerous individuals come into our office for psychological evaluations to determine if they have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) after stating they are having problems with attention and concentration in school, at work, at home, and/or in public settings. While there is a portion of people who legitimately meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD, many individuals’ difficulties with attention and concentration might be linked to other concerns, such as depression and anxiety (Note: Check out this article for more information on ADHD).

If you or someone you know believes that they identify with a diagnosis on social media but are not formally diagnosed, it can be helpful to encourage the individual to undergo a psychological evaluation to determine if they meet the criteria for a specific diagnosis.

It is important to note that not all symptoms are clinical, meaning we all experience normal ups and downs in life that do not constitute a mental health diagnosis. You can have normal anxiety when giving a presentation and not be diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder. Similarly, you can have a bad day and not meet the criteria for Major Depressive Disorder. When it comes to diagnosing, individuals must meet a certain number of the clinical criteria and, in some cases, those symptoms must be present for specific time periods. They must also cause significant distress in a variety of areas, such as at home, work/school, and in social settings.

Ultimately, social media is not all bad, as it has provided platforms for discussing mental health and has made great strides for “visibility, reducing stigma, and helping people gain the insight they may have no other way to access.” For some people, social media has helped them feel less alone. When attempting to understand yourself or your child, the best thing to do is seek professional help and do your research on more than social media (e.g., research articles, academic/educational websites, and government agencies such as the National Institutes of Health).

References:

Aragon-Guevara, D., Castle, G., Sheridan, E. et al. The Reach and Accuracy of Information on Autism on TikTok. J Autism Dev Disord (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-023-06084-6

https://www.verywellmind.com/people-are-using-social-media-to-self-diagnose-5217072

https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/20/tech/tiktok-self-diagnosis-mental-health-wellness/index.html

Motivational Interviewing for Teens: Encouraging Positive Behavioral Change

Motivational interviewing for teens promotes behavioral change, helping adolescents overcome resistance and achieve positive growth.

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In crisis or need immediate help?
Call 988 or go to your nearest ER.

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M-F, 9am-5pm Eastern Time
Phone: 240- 750-6467
Fax: 240-912-7835
contact@orchardmentalhealth.com

9707 Key West Avenue, Suite #100 Rockville, MD 20850

10 North Jefferson Street, Suite #202 Frederick, MD 21701

Privacy & Cookie Policies

Cancel culture has become a prevalent topic in the digital realm.

Cancel culture can often influence the individual engaging in it as well.

Motivational Interviewing for Teens: Encouraging Positive Behavioral Change

TikTok. Instagram. YouTube. What do all of these social media platforms have in common? They are wonderful for getting mass amounts of information out to people. One type of information provided is information related to mental health.

So, what’s the problem?

If you or someone you know believes that they identify with a diagnosis on social media but are not formally diagnosed, it can be helpful to encourage the individual to undergo a psychological evaluation to determine if they meet the criteria for a specific diagnosis.

References:

Motivational Interviewing for Teens: Encouraging Positive Behavioral Change

Effects of Childhood Neglect on Adults

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