Understanding the Growing Decline in Mental Health Through Social Media Interactions

Over the past decade, social media has become ubiquitous across the world, making it a useful tool to analyze the mental health of our population. By examining language and engagement patterns on social media platforms, it's possible to gain a deeper understanding of the factors influencing mental health in the digital age.

Ubiquity of Social Media

Social media platforms serve as significant channels for communication and expression globally. The Statista Digital Population Survey found that as of April 2024, there were 5.07 billion social media users worldwide, which amounted to 62.6% of the global population. 

Asia was home to the  largest number of online users worldwide – over 2.93 billion at the latest count. Europe ranked second, with around 750 million internet users. China, India, and the United States rank ahead of other countries worldwide.

Social media's widespread usage makes it an effective litmus test for assessing societal mental health trends and behaviors.

Watercolor drawing showing connectivity between people globally

One of the strongest indicators of a mental health crisis is how people interact with each other (Shen & Rudzicz, 2017). This means that changes in social behavior and communication patterns can signal underlying mental health conditions. Recognizing these indicators is crucial for identifying mentally distressed individuals.

Growing Decline in Mental Health

Amid the rising mental health crisis, particularly in the United States, it's crucial to assess overall population well-being to detect underlying mental health conditions.

Deaths by suicide have increased by approximately 25% in the US over the past decade. Furthermore, a striking 94% of adults surveyed in the U.S. believe that suicide can be prevented.

Deaths by suicide has increased by approximately 25% in the US over the past decade. This statistic underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to address the rising mental health crisis across the world.

Suicidal ideation stems from underlying mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder (Sarkar et al., 2022). Therefore, analyzing the prevalence and causes of these mental health issues would help develop targeted interventions.

Watercolor graphic of 3 figures contemplating if they face mental health issues

Impact of Social Media on Mental Health

Watercolor graphic of 3 figures under a thunderous cloud
45% of young adults reported feeling more anxious after social media use.
42% of people felt depressed after prolonged social media use.
62% of people with mental health issues reported negative impacts from social media.
Increased social media use is linked to higher rates of anxiety and depression.

These findings highlight the need for greater awareness and action to address the negative mental health consequences of social media usage. Failure to effectively mitigate such behaviors perpetuates an environment where negativity thrives.

Negative comments on social media have tripled over the past 8 years, indicating a trend of increased stress, anxiety and other mental health issues in our population.

Negativity on Social Media

Social media platforms have become integral parts of our daily lives, shaping how we communicate, share information, and interact with others. Amongst these platforms, Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit are the most popular.

Twitter and Reddit show a higher proportion of negative interactions compared to positive ones, possibly due to their semi or fully anonymous nature, which encourages more candid conversations.

However, this anonymous nature can also lead to a proliferation of negative behaviors, such as cyberbullying and trolling. For individuals struggling with mental health issues, encountering such negative interactions can exacerbate feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression (Blease et al., 2019).

Positive and Negative Interactions on Different Social Media Platforms

Reddit had the highest proportion of negative interactions across social media. Indicating that Individuals who regularly engage with negative interactions on Reddit may be particularly vulnerable to mental health issues.

Anonymity on social media can alleviate the fear of judgment that often accompanies discussing mental health issues openly. Users may feel more comfortable sharing their experiences and seeking support without revealing their identities.

Watercolor graphic of anonymous person sharing information, only lips are shown to emphasize anonymity

Prevalence of Mental Health Issues

Mental health has emerged as one of the most pressing concerns of our time. In the United States, ADAA reports that anxiety disorders affect 40 million adults aged 18 and older. Moreover, anxiety disorders often co-occur with depression, exacerbating the burden of mental illness on affected individuals.

Watercolor graphic of people contemplating mental health issues and a figure consoling everyone with a graphic that reads You Are Not Alone
The WHO estimates that approximately 284 million people globally suffer from an anxiety disorder, making it one of the most prevalent mental health conditions globally.
Another WHO estimate showed that depression affects over 264 million people globally, making it one of the leading causes of disability worldwide.

Subreddits with most active users: r/Anxiety and r/Depression. Popularity of these subreddits indicate the rise and prevalence of these mental health issues in our society.

Understanding Anxiety

Anxiety can often be debilitating. It accompanies with it, a spectrum of negative emotions that can severely impact an individual's perception of self-worth and well-being.

Anxiety subreddit had the highest proportion negative sentiment. This suggests that users facing anxiety experience intense negative emotions. Immediate intervention is crucial to address this emotional distress.

Wordcloud Generated from r/Anxiety Subreddit Posts

Sourced from posts made in r/Anxiety in March, 2021

Wordcloud showcasing the most used words on the anxiety subreddit

Wordcloud showcasing the most common words on the r/anxiety subreddit clearly shows most frequently used words convey negative emotions and words indicating a low self worth.

Root Cause of Mental Health Issues

Early detection of root causes is crucial for implementing preventive measures. Globally, approximately one in eight individuals grapple with some form of mental disorder. These disorders often have deep-rooted causes, extending beyond immediate or obvious factors. Health Direct Australia identifies several key root causes, including personality factors, drug and alcohol abuse, trauma and stress, early life environment, and genetic factors.

Users in the Anxiety subreddit primarily attributed their struggles to immediate stressors like drugs and alcohol, suggesting a focus on managing acute symptoms. Conversely, users in the Depression subreddit tend to attribute their challenges to deeper, long-term factors such as upbringing, personality, and trauma, indicating a focus on underlying psychological issues.

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Recognize the Signs

Educate yourself about mental health conditions and their prevalence. Understanding that others share your experiences can be empowering and reassuring.

Support Communities

There are valuable support communities online dedicated to mental health. Connecting with people who are navigating similar challenges can be surprisingly helpful.

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Watercolor graphic of a figure talking to a professional

Seek Professional Help

While community support is beneficial, it's not a substitute for professional care. If you're struggling, consider reaching out to a therapist or counselor. Your well-being matters too.

“The world breaks everyone and afterward
many are strong at the broken places”

-Ernest Hemingway