Are young people turning to social media for mental health support?
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Young people who are experiencing mental health problems are increasingly turning to the Internet and social media for support, instead of parents or healthcare professionals, writes Lauren Blenkinsop.
A recent article by Mindswork states:
‘The Internet is both a one-stop shop and a social hang out. Whether a young person is going there to find out about the War of the Roses for A-Level History or to understand why they or a friend might be self-harming, chances are they go there before anything else.’
This is supported by recent research carried out by YoungMinds and Cello, which showed that in the instance of self-harm, 73% of young people relied on TV, radio, social networks and websites to get information. This is compared to just 11% who sought information from healthcare professionals. Interestingly, 50% of the young people questioned felt they should be talking to their parents about it, but only 10% felt comfortable doing so. These statistics demonstrate that although yo...
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