Mental Health Podcasts — Helpful or Dangerous?
There are tons of misinformation online and by now, we have a better understanding of false information on social media but there’s a little studied corner of the internet we have yet to talk about. Read on to find out what.
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Some time ago, I wrote an article on my mental health blog, theroadtomentalwellness.com, entitled “Why I Hate TikTok.” This article explains why it’s dangerous to seek out mental health information on such platforms. It seems that today, anyone with a phone camera and an internet connection can profess to be a mental health “influencer.”
In the article, I highlight the dangers of turning to non-professionals for mental health advice. FYI, children talking about their mental health on the internet will never be a great source of credible information.
In fact, there have been studies on the dangers of believing these influencers. One study, published in PlushCare, showed that approximately 84% of mental health information on TikTok is misleading or false. The study examined 500 mental health videos and found that most contained inaccurate or potentially harmful advice. Additionally, a significant number of these videos encourage self-diagnosis and are created by individuals who lack professional qualifications. Only about 9% of creators providing mental health advice on TikTok have relevant credentials.
This high rate of misinformation underscores the importance of seeking mental health advice from qualified professionals rather than relying on social media content. This number is alarming, to say the least, but social media isn’t the only concern we should have for misleading and potentially dangerous information.
What we hear little about are podcasts, another medium by which anyone with the technology can create any kind of content, whether they are experts in a given field or someone who “thinks they know.” While these platforms are generally more reliable, we should still exercise caution when seeking help for our mental health through podcast consumption. Simply put, always trust information from the pros and not from your buddy’s podcast.
The only caveat here, which applies to both social media and podcasts, is the sufferer who is not telling you what your diagnosis is but telling their story in hopes it will help others.
Although I am a trained counsellor and have worked with people with mental illness for nearly twenty years, my presence online is mostly that of my story. As a sufferer of major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder, I avoid giving advice or diagnoses. Why? Because mental illnesses can only be diagnosed by a psychologist, psychiatrist, or, in some cases, a doctor. In other words, I am not qualified to diagnose anyone with anything. What I am able to do is employ counselling practices to help others deal with things like depression and anxiety, for example. Still, I mainly stick with my experience and share it with the world to show people they are not alone. And for the times I do offer tips, it’s with work and research. Exercise, for instance, is a subject that I have studied extensively with a particular interest in how it improves our mental well-being. I believe that I can make a difference through my own personal journey and leadership skills.
At the end of the day, what should be taken away here is this: There are many great podcasts and social media channels out there that do have accurate information to help guide you. Look for them instead of listening to someone who is more interested in building a brand than helping you improve your mental health.
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Sources:
“How Accurate is Mental Health Advice on TikTok?” PlushCare, 2022, www.plushcare.com/how-accurate-is-mental-health-advice-on-tiktok/. Accessed 14 June 2024.
