Opinion: Ii's understandable why we search for a quick fix for mental health issues online, but it's important to seek help from a reliable source
By Emily McGlinchey, Queens University Belfast and Rachel Mc Hugh, Letterkenny Institute of Technology
It is expected that many of us will need support during the coming months and years following the impact of this pandemic, it. At present, there is a lot of help online for those seeking mental health and wellbeing advice. This is especially apparent across social media sites. It is encouraging that so much information is at our fingertips, as it is valuable to learn new knowledge and coping mechanisms from others.
Research shows that learning about mental health from a reliable source, which is called psycho-education, can be a powerful way to help understand ourselves. It is empowering when we can access support and remove the stigma surrounding our own mental health issues. This is especially important when many of us have spent long periods in isolation, experienced difficulties adjusting to the changes to our routine and suffered job loss or the loss of loved ones. It is promising to see an openness emerging around mental health difficulties online and well meant discussions of this kind.
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RTÉ Brainstorm podcast with 5 tips to mind your mental health during the Covid-19 lockdown
However, it is vital that mental health is discussed in the correct way and advice is taken from credible sources in the same capacity that physical health advice would be. It is important to know when seeking support from an online source what type of help is needed for you, who and where the advice or support is coming from and ensure you and others are engaging in evidence-based mental health practice online.
Mental health is complex. It is not black and white, and is different for everyone. Advice should be personal, and even a qualified and experienced therapist could never make a call over the internet. Without an in-depth clinical assessment, it is impossible to know an individual's story and specific set of varying symptoms by solely messaging online.
Evidence based assessment models are necessary to work out what treatment or programme fits for each individual, and this needs to be conducted by a therapist who is suitability qualified and regulated to so. Different types of therapists and psychologists use varying models of therapy, so ensuring that you receive the correct advice and support that fits you specifically is the most important thing.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Today with Sarah McInerney, a discussion on Covid-19 and mental health with GP Dr. Harry Barry, University of Limerick's Ann Marie Creaven and psychotherapist Enda Murphy
Remember that even qualified therapists who use social media as a platform have limits to the help they can provide online. These limits are extremely important when dealing with vulnerability and something both the individual seeking help and therapist should take into account. An important part of clinical working is recognising what is outside of a therapist's remit and to help ensure the correct advice and support is obtained for each individual. This takes time, but lasts into the future.
When visiting a mental health blog or influencer’s page online, always look for their "disclaimer". All mental health related media pages should contain a disclaimer that lets you know exactly what kind of help you can obtain from their page, what type of advice they are qualified to give and their exact qualifications/professional role (if any). Instagram pages or mental health blogs are rarely operational 24/7, and providing a clear disclaimer helps avoid the possibility of an individual reaching out for help via direct message to that page/influencer, who isn’t able to provide this service. This is extremely dangerous especially for more serious issues such as risk, suicidality, domestic violence, abuse within the home or any other concerns around safeguarding yourself or others.
Risk assessment is a key aspect of clinical work, and involves an in-depth process which is not something that can be done on social media by someone who is not clinically trained. Similarly, other key factors like confidentiality are not the same in the online world and this may not have been considered by the individual who is seeking help. All blogs or social media pages around mental health should clearly signpost to contact information for professional support services.
If you are vulnerable and struggling with your mental health, it is important to seek help from a reliable source
It is understandable why people search for a quick fix online, but your mental health and wellbeing are worth so much more. Evidence based psycho-education and lived experiences can be very useful and informative. Even understanding the processes of anxiety, for example, can be really helpful, and the fact that it can be accessed by a wider audience over the internet is powerful. Learning about alternative holistic ways of improving your wellbeing can also be done really well online.
However, everyone is different. If you are vulnerable and struggling with your mental health, and general tips or psycho-education is not enough, it is important to seek help from a reliable source. For mental health support specific to your situation and symptoms, and for long term improvements, seek out professional advice. It takes courage to ask for help so ensure it is done in the safest manner possible. Contact your GP or health service provider to discuss options and access to your local psychological therapies team.
Dr Emily McGlinchey is a Research Fellow in the School of Psychology at Queens University Belfast. Dr Rachel McHugh is a Research Associate in Mental Health at Letterkenny Institute of Technology.
