Romanticizing Mental Illness
TW: discussions of mental illness, self-harm, suicide
With the many voices on social media, particularly TikTok, there seems to be a new trend - diagnosing mental illness through TikTok games and filters. There are videos that claim listening to a song sped up will induce a panic attack, or not being able to keep your hand still in a freeze-frame filter is a sign of anxiety.
These trends are harmful. They inspire unhealthy perceptions of mental illness (not everyone with anxiety can’t stay still, and not everyone with anxiety has panic attacks).
While TikTok and other social media platforms can help people self diagnose, which can be useful for those without health insurance or access to a mental health professional, when mental illness is turned into a “trend” or something “cool,” it limits the access and credibility of those who actually have a mental illness.
Self-diagnosing through games or filters is not the same as going to a therapist, and shouldn’t be treated as such. It can make those who actually suffer from depression or anxiety feel like their life is being joked about or belittled, and can make it harder for people who suffer from mental illness to feel comfortable coming forward.
Mental illness is not glamorous.
It can cause panic attacks, fear of social situations, and isolation. It can drive people to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol, self-harm, attempt suicide.
It isn’t a quirky behavior or aesthetic, and shouldn’t be treated as such. Minimizing the impact of mental illness is only damaging to those who have it, creating harmful stereotypes, making light of struggles of real people, and glossing over the detrimental impact it can have on peoples’ lives.
My own struggles with mental illness have not been pretty or fun. At its worst, it was thoughts of suicide and anxiously picking at my wrist until it bled. At its best, it is anxiously overthinking every ignored text.
It wasn’t and isn’t glamorous or cute, and it was never a TikTok trend.
What social media platforms are good at, is bringing people together. Listening to other people talk about their struggles with mental illness in a candid way made me feel less alone, and based on the response most of these videos get, it seems to help others too.
Graphic by Raquel Wilkins
Posting about mental illness isn’t the problem, the problem is glamorizing it and making it feel like a struggle that you need to have to be considered cool or relevant.
Talking about mental health online is a way to normalize illnesses that 1 in 5 Americans struggle with. Seeing other people tell their stories or share their experiences with therapy, medication, and stigma can make us feel less alone, but also give us the strength and inspiration to seek our own treatment. Posting online can be empowering. It can give a voice to people who might feel alone or unseen, as well as offer communities of people struggling with the same issues.
Being able to learn, share resources, and empathize with people from all over the world is one of the many positives about being honest about mental health online. I encourage people to recognize the positives social media can bring to mental health, while also realizing that not all content is necessarily positive. It can be difficult, but if you learn to recognize the signs of positivity and honesty online, you can help break the stereotypes and support those who suffer from mental illnesses.
Be aware of the content you are consuming. Think about if the jokes and games online could hurt someone, especially someone in a marginalized community, such as mental illness. If you don’t suffer from any mental health issues, this line might seem blurry, so here are 5 ways you can support friends and family who might be suffering from mental illness:
Graphic by Raquel Wilkins
Ask how you can help
The answer might be “I don’t know” or “you can’t” but offering that you are there for them can help someone realize that they have friends who care.
Sit in the same room as them (if they want company)
Sometimes it can be too hard to talk about feelings, but the person in your life might just want company. Doing homework, or watching TV, or just working on your own things simultaneously can help your loved one, but also be something that turns into a fun day!
Don’t tease or belittle them about their mental illness
Don’t make them feel bad about themselves or like a burden, make sure they feel accepted and loved. Teasing them can make them less likely to seek help when they need it, and make them feel more self-conscious about their mental illness.
Be understanding and gentle
Practice empathy. Make sure you are an active listener. Don’t yell at them, try to be as comforting and understanding as you can.
Invite them to go for walks, eat food, or hang out
Mental illness can make it hard to be motivated to eat, see friends, or be active. Invite them places to get them out of the house, getting fresh air, yummy food, and social interaction can help boost mood and build a sense of community and trust with you and your friend.
Of course, it is never your responsibility to care for someone else’s mental health. Remember to take care of yourself and set healthy boundaries.
If you are, at any point, worried about a friend or loved one’s struggle with mental illness, tell a trusted adult, check out Be More’s free resources for mental health, or call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-TALK (8255).