Many Tiktoker give wrong advice on mental health

Many Tiktoker give wrong advice on mental health

By Dr. Kyle Muller

Eating an orange in the shower, taking saffron, glycinated magnesium or tulsi to relieve anxiety: they are just some of the advice that some tiktoker give in their videos where they speak of mental health, in most cases giving information completely or partially incorrect. This is what emerges from an investigation conducted by the British newspaper The Guardianwhich subjected the 100 most viewed videos to Tik Tok with the hashtag #mentalHealthtips (#Consiglidisaltealteali) to the examination of the experts.

Inaccuracies and simplifications. According to what was established by a team of psychologists, psychiatrists and academic experts, 52 of the 100 analyzed videos that spoke of mental health contained some incorrect information, and many others were vague or not very useful. “Some posts used the therapeutic language wronglyinterchangeing terms such as well -being, anxiety and mental disorder how synonyms were “, explains the neuropsychiatrist David Okai to the Guardian, also underlining that many videos offered general advice based on personal experiences.

Another mistake is treat therapy as a magical recipe for healing: “It is true that the therapy is effective, but it is also important to emphasize that it is not a magical, quick and that it is good for everyone,” recalls Okai.

Care in 30 seconds. According to the psychologist Amber Johnson, most videos contained some correct information, but tended to generalize and minimize the complexity of post -traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the symptoms of a trauma. “It seems that all the symptoms of PTSD are similar for everyone, and that they can be easily explained in a 30 -second Reel,” he comments.

“Attention to the sources of information”. To intervene on what some representatives of the Italian scientific community also emerged. “In the social era, we witness a proliferation of content on the mental health shared by those who do not have specific skills in this area, often pushed more by the need to establish themselves as a creator than from a real popular intent », he explains Valeria Fiorenza Perris, a psychotherapist and clinical Director of the UNBRAVO Director.
«Psychology – I want to reiterate it forcefully – it’s a science: becoming a psychologist requires years of study, training and clinical practice to be able to offer their patients a competent, ethical and responding space of listening to specific individual needs “, continues Perris, underlining how much Still and “fortunately” there are many qualified professionals who use social media responsible and with popular purposes responsible.
«Their contribution, as we also do, is that of contrast the stigma that still surrounds psychological therapy. However, it is necessary to operate a distinction between those who have adequate training and those who create content without having clinical tools for predict possible repercussions On those who will display them by exposing, in some cases, the public to potential risks ».
Perris’ invitation is of Make sure attention to the sources of information: «Looking for reliable references is essential. Online it is possible to find serious and safe resources: for example, in our blog all the contents are validated by a editorial staff composed of clinicians, precisely for the purpose of guarantee correctness and scientific rigor».

Awareness and freedom of expression. There are no universal care or secret advice to heal in ten days: if on the one hand social social nets can help spread awareness regarding the existence of the different mental disorders, on the other it is important Promote access to authoritative sources containing updated and evidence -based information. For its part, a representative of Tik Tok responds in the mouth, claiming that the platform is a place of free expression where people can share their experiences, and that the study of the Tea Guardian “It opposes this free expression and suggests that people should not be able to share their stories.”

Kyle Muller
About the author
Dr. Kyle Muller
Dr. Kyle Mueller is a Research Analyst at the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department in Houston, Texas. He earned his Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Texas State University in 2019, where his dissertation was supervised by Dr. Scott Bowman. Dr. Mueller's research focuses on juvenile justice policies and evidence-based interventions aimed at reducing recidivism among youth offenders. His work has been instrumental in shaping data-driven strategies within the juvenile justice system, emphasizing rehabilitation and community engagement.
Published in