Pupils’ Use of Social Media and Its Relation to Mental Health from a School Personnel Perspective: A Preliminary Qualitative Study

The extent of mental health problems among adolescents seems to be on the rise, and this observed trend has often been linked to a coinciding increase in social media use. The goal of the current preliminary study was to investigate how senior high school personnel experience the role of social media in relation to the mental health of their pupils. Two focus group interviews (total n = 11) were completed and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, resulting in 4 themes and 11 subthemes. The results illustrate that school personnel experience social media as a tool for communication, but also as a potential cause of mental health issues and reduced academic performance among pupils. The participants called for schools to become better equipped to meet the opportunities and challenges of social media.

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The role of social media in reducing stigma and discrimination

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.bp.114.152835 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 206 (6) ◽

pp. 443-444 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Victoria Betton ◽

Rohan Borschmann ◽

Mary Docherty ◽

Stephen Coleman ◽

Mark Brown ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Media ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Public Attitudes ◽

Mental Health Stigma ◽

The Public ◽

Mainstream Media ◽

Use Of Social Media ◽

Media Practices

SummaryThis editorial explores the implications of social media practices whereby people with mental health problems share their experiences in online public spaces and challenge mental health stigma. Social media enable individuals to bring personal experience into the public domain with the potential to affect public attitudes and mainstream media. We draw tentative conclusions regarding the use of social media by campaigning organisations.

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The Role of Social Media in Adolescent Loneliness and Mental Health Problems: Current Evidence and Suggestions for Future Work

10.31234/osf.io/xewc8 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Warner Myntti ◽

Jensen Spicer ◽

Carol Janney ◽

Stacey Armstrong ◽

Sarah Domoff

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Media ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Media Use ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Social Media Use ◽

The Social ◽

Future Work ◽

The Relationship

Adolescents are spending more time interacting with peers online than in person, evidencing the need to examine this shift’s implications for adolescent loneliness and mental health. The current review examines research documenting an association between social media use and mental health, and highlights several specific areas that should be further explored as mechanisms within this relationship. Overall, it appears that frequency of social media use, the kind of social media use, the social environment, the platform used, and the potential for adverse events are especially important in understanding the relationship between social media use and adolescent mental health.

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Media, Social Media, and the Securitization of Mental Health Problems in Nepal

Research Anthology on Mental Health Stigma, Education, and Treatment ◽

10.4018/978-1-7998-8544-3.ch049 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 838-859

Author(s):

Sudeep Uprety ◽

Rajesh Ghimire

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Media ◽

Media Coverage ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

Health Issues ◽

Mainstream Media ◽

Mental Health Issues ◽

Securitization Theory ◽

Journalistic Professionalism

This chapter attempts to unfold the trend and nature of mainstream and social media coverage on mental health issues in Nepal through suicide case of Yama Buddha, a popular musician. Using the securitization theory and concepts of threat construction and threat neutralization, major findings through content analysis and key informant interviews reveal reputed mainstream media following cautious route towards threat neutralization and therefore, maintaining a level of journalistic professionalism. However, especially in the other online media, blogs, and other social media, there were sensationalist words and tone used to attract the audience, triggering various sorts of emotional responses, thereby fulfilling the act of securitization. Major recommendations from this chapter include more awareness and understanding about the nature and type of mental health problems; capacity building of journalists and media professionals to better understand and report on mental health problems; development and proper implementation of media guidelines on reporting mental health issues.

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Social media, self-harm and suicide

BJPsych Bulletin ◽

10.1192/bjb.2019.94 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 44 (4) ◽

pp. 131-133 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Allan House

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Media ◽

Royal College ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Public Debate ◽

The Public ◽

High Profile ◽

Advantages And Disadvantages ◽

Self Harm ◽

Use Of Social Media

SummaryUse of social media by people with mental health problems, and especially those who are prone to self-harm, has potential advantages and disadvantages. This poses a dilemma about how and by how much the form and content of social media sites should be regulated. Unfortunately, participation in the public debate about this dilemma has been restricted and high-profile discussion of necessary action has been focused almost entirely on how much suppression of content is justified. Professional bodies, including the Royal College of Psychiatrists, should be doing much more than they are to shape how the debate is conducted.

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Transpersonal Gratitude, Emotional Intelligence, Life Contentment, and Mental Health Risk Among Adolescents and Young Adults

10.20944/preprints202007.0620.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Namood E-Sahar

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Emotional Intelligence ◽

Young Adults ◽

Health Risk ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Health Issues ◽

Mental Health Issues ◽

Drugs And Crime

World statistics demonstrate that around 970 million people around the globe suffer from mental health problems (Ritchie & Roser, 2019), a major proportion of which comprised of adolescents and young adults (UNODC, 2018). Also, because of increased mental health issues the problems like substance use, suicide, depression, anxiety, and stress are also increasing (Armstrong, 2019; Bandelow & Michaelis, 2015; Ritchie & Roser, 2018; United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [UNODC], 2019). It is thus a dire need to address the issue. The present coneptual paper proposed the role of transpersonal gratitude, emotional intelligence, and life contentment for reducing mental health risk among the adolescents and young adults.

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Social media use for supporting mental health (SMILE)

Mental Health Review Journal ◽

10.1108/mhrj-10-2020-0079 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Gill Brown ◽

Amy Leigh Rathbone ◽

Julie Prescott

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Media ◽

Online Survey ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Service Providers ◽

Personal Control ◽

Health Issues ◽

Content Type ◽

Support Mechanism ◽

Mental Health Issues

Purpose The SMILE study (social media as informal support for people with mental illness: an exploratory study) aimed to explore how people with mental health issues use and value social media as a support mechanism. Design/methodology/approach A systematic search of Facebook and Twitter identified groups and pages relating to mental health issues. In total, 203 users over the age of 18 were recruited via Facebook and Twitter. Any user who considered themselves to experience mental health problems could opt to participate and no exclusion criteria were applied. A mixed-methods online survey retrieved demographic and qualitative data by asking users to describe their personal experiences when using social media for mental health support. Findings Users perceive Facebook and Twitter as useful online resources to gain informational and emotional support and to share experiences. The benefits were; ease of access, anonymity and personal control over engagement levels. Users had subjective experiences of engagement, however, overall these were deemed positive. Using Facebook and Twitter for mental health provided users with a sense of connectedness and reduced feelings of isolation. Originality/value The qualitative methodology allowed participants to share their experiences and views, with positive implications for services. Social media was discussed as a prospective tool for raising awareness and reducing stigma. The study highlights the scope for mental health service providers to tap into the social media consumer market and provide quality online support provision.

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Evolutionary Mismatches in the Development of Today’s Children

How Children Invented Humanity ◽

10.1093/oso/9780190066864.003.0007 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 220-265

Author(s):

David F. Bjorklund

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Media ◽

Digital Media ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Life History Strategy ◽

Psychological Development ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Relative Lack ◽

Use Of Social Media ◽

Children’S Exposure

Differences between modern and ancient environments sometimes cause evolutionary mismatches. Many children are following an exceptionally slow life history strategy and as a result are safer and engage in less risky behavior than in the past (safetyism), although many are more psychologically fragile and less resilient. Excessive use of social media is associated with poorer physical and mental health, including increases in depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Today’s adolescents display hyper-individualism that emphasizes personal freedom and achievement. The relative lack of social bonding in individualistic societies is associated with increases in loneliness and mental health problems and can sometimes be exaggerated by social media use. Modern schools represent a mismatch with the environments of our forechildren. Similarly, young children’s exposure to digital media may have detrimental effects on subsequent learning and psychological development. Parents and educators can identify problems associated with evolutionary mismatches and design environments that make the lives of children happier.

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Role of Stigma and Attitudes Toward Help-Seeking from a General Practitioner for Mental Health Problems in a Rural Town

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1080/j.1440-1614.2005.01612.x ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 39 (6) ◽

pp. 514-521 ◽

Cited By ~ 135

Author(s):

Sarah Wrigley ◽

Henry Jackson ◽

Fiona Judd ◽

Angela Komiti

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Psychological Help ◽

Health Issues ◽

Perceived Stigma ◽

Professional Psychological Help ◽

Mental Health Issues

Objective: To examine the role of perceived stigma and attitudes to seeking care in predicting help-seeking from a general practitioner (GP) for mental health problems. Method: Across-sectional surveyin 2002 with self-repor t questionnaires assessing current levels of symptomatology, disability, attitudes towards mental illness, knowledge of prevalence and causes of mental illness, contact with mental illness and help-seeking behaviour and preferences and attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help. Results: No significant relationship was found between symptom measures and measures of disability and help-seeking. Variables positively associated with general attitudes to seeking professional psychological help were: lower perceived stigma, and biological rather than person-based causal attributions for schizophrenia. Willingness to discuss mental health issues with a GP was predicted by the perceived helpfulness of the GP and by no other variable. Conclusions: Causal attributions and perceivedstigma rather than participants' levels of symptomatology and disability influence attitudes to help-seeking for mental health issues. Efforts to improve attitudes to help-seeking should focus on reducing stigma and improving mental health literacy regarding the causes of disorders.

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Cyber Bullying Detection on Social Media using Machine Learning

ITM Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/itmconf/20214003038 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 40 ◽

pp. 03038

Author(s):

Aditya Desai ◽

Shashank Kalaskar ◽

Omkar Kumbhar ◽

Rashmi Dhumal

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Machine Learning ◽

Social Media ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Young Generation ◽

Health Issues ◽

The Past ◽

The Individual ◽

Deep Learning Model

Usage of internet and social media backgrounds tends in the use of sending, receiving and posting of negative, harmful, false or mean content about another individual which thus means Cyberbullying. Bullying over social media also works the same as threatening, calumny, and chastising the individual. Cyberbullying has led to a severe increase in mental health problems, especially among the young generation. It has resulted in lower self-esteem, increased suicidal ideation. Unless some measure against cyberbullying is taken, self-esteem and mental health issues will affect an entire generation of young adults. Many of the traditional machine learning models have been implemented in the past for the automatic detection of cyberbullying on social media. But these models have not considered all the necessary features that can be used to identify or classify a statement or post as bullying. In this paper, we proposed a model based on various features that should be considered while detecting cyberbullying and implement a few features with the help of a bidirectional deep learning model called BERT.

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Peer Responses to Trans Youth Tweeting About Self-Harm and Suicidality

Creative Nursing ◽

10.1891/crnr-d-19-00089 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 135-142

Author(s):

Drew Simms

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Media ◽

Young People ◽

Protective Factor ◽

Minority Groups ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Issues ◽

Mental Health Issues ◽

Self Harm ◽

Trans Youth

BackgroundTransgender youth have been found to be at higher risk of experiencing common mental health problems than their cisgender peers, but there has been little research into the mechanisms of peer support among this group. Research into how young people communicate about self-harm and suicidality on social media has found patterns of behavior in which young people encourage each other's risky and self-injurious actions, but whether this holds true among minority groups such as trans youth has not been established.MethodTwitter biographies were searched to find self-identifying trans people aged 14–18 years. The resulting accounts were searched for key words related to common mental health issues. The tweets caught by the search terms and their replies were coded into themes using a combination of inductive and deductive coding. The occurrence of themes were quantified and analyzed using SPSS 24.Results1,468 tweets were analyzed from 235 accounts; 133 (56.6%) of the accounts with relevant content received no public replies to tweets mentioning mental health issues. Of the 102 (43.4%) that did receive public replies, 64 (62.7%) received a maximum of two replies. Three themes were found in replies to tweets, Support, Feeling the Same Way, and Advice. Most replies were expressions of support, followed by expressions of feeling the same way; advice was rare. There were no incidents of replies that were dismissive of or encouraged self-injurious behavior.DiscussionFindings differ from existing research on how youth interact with each other online with regard to mental health issues: the trans youth in this study were not found to encourage risky and self-injurious behavior in each other. This has implications for caring for trans youth in mental health settings, where social media use is normally discouraged, as its use may be a protective factor for trans youth specifically.

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