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Journalism of Courage
When a social media influencer shared how a yoga posture called Shavasana, or the corpse pose, helped her recover from depression, she forgot to add a disclaimer. That yoga aids in mental wellness as a complementary practice provided you address the root problem with an expert in the first place. This proved costly for 30-year-old Radhika Menon (name changed), one of her 40,000 followers suffering from depression.
Instead of seeking help from a psychiatrist or psychologist, she tried everything advised by the social media influencer for five months. She was a wreck when she walked into the Mumbai clinic of Dr Sagar Mundada, consultant psychiatrist, Healthspring. “While yoga can certainly aid in mental health, in her case, with a family history of depression, she needed medication besides psychotherapy,” says Dr Sagar. Research shows that any person with a family history of depression probably has a three-time greater risk of lapsing into severe depression compared to the average person.
Social media platforms are flooded with influencers offering quick-fix solutions to complex mental health issues. Such misinformation often delays necessary medical intervention and may lead individuals to forgo prescribed medication, worsening their condition.
Watch out for red flags
Radhika had been going through tell-tale symptoms of depression but was afraid of articulating them. “She had classic signs — feeling grumpy, withdrawing socially, having trouble sleeping, waking up at night with a sweat, feeling worthless or guilty, eating more or less than usual and gaining or losing weight,” says Dr Sagar.
The other misrepresentation is of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). “Videos suggest that it can be treated through Mandala art (making a geometric design or pattern around a circle),” says Dr Suyash Dwivedi, consultant psychiatrist, assistant professor, Rama Medical College, Ghaziabad, whose recent post on the issue on LinkedIn has gone viral.
People with OCD experience recurrent and distressing thoughts/images/urges which trigger anxiety and discomfort. “Common signs include excessive washing/cleaning, frequent checking (e.g., door-locks/appliances or on loved ones), frequent counting or repeating certain words/phrases/numbers/actions, constantly arranging/organising objects in a specific way,” says Dr Shaunak Ajinkya, consultant psychiatrist, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai. Truth is OCD can only be handled by a mental health expert. “CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) is one of the most effective treatments, ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention), helps you resist urges. Anti-OCD drugs manage moderate to severe OCD,” says Dr Ajinkya.
Dr Sagar sees at least two patients every week who follow online advisories not validated by science. “Clinical mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, anxiety, or autism need treatment protocols,” he argues. “If a person has memory problems, it won’t go away by going on a trek. They might have neuro-psychology disorders like Multiple Sclerosis (MS),” Dr Dwivedi adds.
How algorithms distort diagnosis
Dr Dwivedi is concerned about the trivialisation of serious medical terms like trauma and depression. “Sadness is now depression. Everybody loosely uses the word traumatised, previously reserved for catastrophic events. No wonder people are becoming pessimistic,” he adds.
Algorithms compel individuals with mental health issues to continuously engage with such content. “Once you search for mental health topics on social media, the platform’s algorithms tailor content, including Instagram stories, to display similar videos,” explains Dr Dwivedi. “Repeated exposure to homemade remedies, unregulated supplements or extreme diets for psychiatric disorders is misleading,” he says.
Battling stigma
Dr Samir Parikh, director, Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences, Fortis Healthcare, says that approximately 75 per cent of people with mental health concerns refrain from seeking professional help due to societal stigma and love the comfort of anonymity online. “I encounter such cases among the younger demographic active on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. While unqualified and unethical videos exist across various health topics, the impact on mental health is particularly severe due to existing reluctance to seek professional assistance,” he adds.
