Social Media and Mental Health: Benefits, Risks, and Opportunities for Research and Practice

For individuals who openly discuss mental health problems on Twitter, this served as an important opportunity to seek support and to hear about the experiences of others.

“For individuals who openly discuss mental health problems on Twitter, a study by Berry et al. (2017) found that this served as an important opportunity to seek support and to hear about the experiences of others (Berry et al., 2017).”

• cites Berry et al., 2017 sourceSupported

Some individuals may prefer to seek help for mental health concerns online rather than through in-person encounters.

“while other studies have found that some individuals may prefer to seek help for mental health concerns online rather than through in-person encounters (Batterham & Calear, 2017).”

• cites Batterham & Calear, 2017 sourceSupported

Individuals self-identified as having a schizophrenia spectrum disorder reported that visiting social media sites was one of their most common activities when using digital devices, taking up roughly 2 hours each day.

“Individuals who self-identified as having a schizophrenia spectrum disorder responded to a survey shared through the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), and reported that visiting social media sites was one of their most common activities when using digital devices, taking up roughly 2 hours each day (Gay, Torous, Joseph, Pandya, & Duckworth, 2016).”

• cites Gay, Torous, Joseph, Pandya, & Duckworth, 2016 sourceSupported

In a qualitative study, participants with schizophrenia described greater anonymity, the ability to discover that other people have experienced similar health challenges, and reducing fears through greater access to information as important motivations for using the Internet to seek mental health information.

“In a qualitative study, participants with schizophrenia described greater anonymity, the ability to discover that other people have experienced similar health challenges, and reducing fears through greater access to information as important motivations for using the Internet to seek mental health information (Schrank, Sibitz, Unger, & Amering, 2010).”

• cites Schrank, Sibitz, Unger, & Amering, 2010 sourceSupported

Individuals with mental disorders are increasingly gaining access to and using mobile devices, such as smartphones.

“Recent studies have shown that individuals with mental disorders are increasingly gaining access to and using mobile devices, such as smartphones”

• cites Firth et al., 2015 sourcePartly supported

  The Results and Discussion report that mobile-phone ownership increased over time among people with psychosis, and the Results report daily use by some phone owners. The study does not establish an increasing trend in use or smartphone ownership, and its findings on ownership are specific to psychotic disorders rather than mental disorders generally. Page numbers are not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
• cites Glick, Druss, Pina, Lally, & Conde, 2016 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Torous, Chan, et al., 2014 sourcePartly supported

  The Discussion’s Principal Findings report that 62.5% of surveyed psychiatric outpatients owned smartphones and that 70.6% were interested in using them to monitor symptoms. The paper predicts that access and engagement will grow, but its survey does not establish that ownership or actual use was increasing over time. (LLM, conf=0.86)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Among middle-age and older individuals with mental illness accessing services at peer support agencies, 72% reported using social media.

“Comparable findings were demonstrated among middle-age and older individuals with mental illness accessing services at peer support agencies, where 72% of respondents reported using social media (Aschbrenner, Naslund, Grinley, et al., 2018).”

• cites Aschbrenner, Naslund, Grinley, et al., 2018 sourcePartly supported

  The Discussion reports that 72% of peer support agency respondents used social media. However, the Abstract Methods describes the survey population as adults aged 18 and over; the 72% figure is not reported specifically for middle-aged and older respondents. (LLM, conf=0.87)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Rates of social media use among psychiatric populations have increased in recent years.

“Rates of social media use among psychiatric populations have increased in recent years”

• cites Brunette et al., 2019 sourcePartly supported

  The Discussion concludes that a growing number of people with serious mental illness use social media, supporting the direction of the claim. But it frames this as a suggestion from survey data, not a measured increase in social-media-use rates over time, and it concerns people with serious mental illness rather than psychiatric populations generally. No page number is available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.82)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Participation in chat rooms may contribute to worsening symptoms in young people with psychotic disorders.

“participation in chat rooms may contribute to worsening symptoms in young people with psychotic disorders (Mittal, Tessner, & Walker, 2007)”

• cites Mittal, Tessner, & Walker, 2007 sourcePartly supported

  The Results report that adolescents who spent more time in chat rooms had more severe schizotypal personality disorder (SPD) symptom ratings. The Discussion raises the possibility that reducing Internet access might reduce symptom severity, but says experimental studies are needed; it does not establish that chat-room participation worsens symptoms. The study concerns adolescents with SPD, not young people with psychotic disorders generally. (LLM, conf=0.85)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

PeerFIT has demonstrated preliminary effectiveness for meaningfully reducing cardiovascular risk factors that contribute to early mortality in patients with serious mental illness.

“To date, this program has demonstrate preliminary effectiveness for meaningfully reducing cardiovascular risk factors that contribute to early mortality in this patient group (Aschbrenner, Naslund, Shevenell, Kinney, et al., 2016)”

• cites Aschbrenner, Naslund, Shevenell, Kinney, et al., 2016 sourcePartly supported

  The Results report significant reductions in weight and BMI, with 28% of participants achieving clinically significant weight loss. The Introduction links obesity to reduced life expectancy and weight loss to lower cardiovascular risk. But fitness did not improve significantly, and the Conclusions say randomized trials are still needed to determine whether the intervention reduces obesity-related cardiovascular risk; the claim is broader than the pilot’s findings. (LLM, conf=0.84)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

In a computational study of mental health awareness campaigns on Twitter, inspirational posts and tips were the most shared.

“A computational study of mental health awareness campaigns on Twitter provides further support with inspirational posts and tips being the most shared (Saha et al., 2019).”

• cites Saha et al., 2019 sourceSupported

In a survey of young adults ages 19 to 32, more frequent visits to social media platforms each week were correlated with greater depressive symptoms.

“more frequent visits to social media platforms each week were correlated with greater depressive symptoms (Lin et al., 2016).”

• cites Lin et al., 2016 sourceSupported

Studies consistently highlight that use of social media, especially heavy use and prolonged time spent, appears to contribute to increased risk for a variety of mental health symptoms and poor wellbeing, especially among young people.

“Studies consistently highlight that use of social media, especially heavy use and prolonged time spent on social media platforms, appears to contribute to increased risk for a variety of mental health symptoms and poor wellbeing, especially among young people (Andreassen et al., 2016; Kross et al., 2013; Woods & Scott, 2016).”

• cites Andreassen et al., 2016 sourcePartly supported

  The Conclusions (p. 19) associate addictive social-media use with several psychiatric symptoms and lower age, supporting part of the claim. But this cross-sectional study does not show that social-media use contributes to those symptoms, and its measure of addictive use does not establish a risk from prolonged time spent on platforms generally. Its sample was predominantly adults, rather than specifically young people. (LLM, conf=0.88)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
• cites Kross et al., 2013 sourcePartly supported

  The Results (Facebook use and well-being; page unavailable) report that greater Facebook use predicted declines in life satisfaction, and the Methods identify the participants as young adults (mean age 19.52). This supports the claim about use and poorer well-being, but the study examined Facebook rather than social media platforms generally, did not establish effects of prolonged time spent, and did not report increased risk for a variety of mental health symptoms. (LLM, conf=0.88)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
• cites Woods & Scott, 2016 sourcePartly supported

  The Discussion (p. 14) reports that greater social media use among adolescents was associated with poorer sleep, higher anxiety and depression, and lower self-esteem. But Social media and wellbeing (p. 16) says the direction of the relationship remains to be established. The source therefore supports the link, but not the implication that prolonged use contributes to the increased risk. (LLM, conf=0.87)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Many individuals living with mental disorders have expressed interest in using social media platforms for connecting with mental health providers.

“connecting with mental health providers (M. L. Birnbaum et al., 2017)”

• cites M. L. Birnbaum et al., 2017 sourceCould not verify

  The Introduction reports that individuals with mental illness use social media and describes benefits such as relationships and support. The Discussion considers ways to reach users online and says more research is needed on making first clinical contact. Neither section reports that individuals expressed interest in using social media to connect with mental health providers; searches for that interest and for provider contact found no such passage. (LLM, conf=0.72)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Use of a large number of social media platforms is associated with negative impact on mental health in a national survey of young adults.

“use of a large number of social media platforms was associated with negative impact on mental health (Primack et al., 2017).”

• cites Primack et al., 2017 sourceSupported

The Facebook component of PeerFIT allowed participants unable to attend in-person sessions to remain connected with the program.

“while the Facebook component appears to have increased engagement in the program, while allowing participants who were unable to attend in-person sessions due to other health concerns or competing demands to remain connected with the program (Naslund, Aschbrenner, Marsch, McHugo, & Bartels, 2018).”

• cites Naslund, Aschbrenner, Marsch, McHugo, & Bartels, 2018 sourcePartly supported

  The Discussion (page not provided) suggests that Facebook may have helped participants who missed in-person sessions remain connected. It does not identify health concerns or competing demands as reasons for missing sessions, and says Facebook use may not have indicated greater overall program engagement. (LLM, conf=0.88)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

The relationship between social media use and mental health may not be present in general population studies.

“These studies highlight a clear relationship between social media use and mental health that may not be present in general population studies (Orben & Przybylski, 2019)”

• cites Orben & Przybylski, 2019 sourcePartly supported

  The Results (p. 7) find a small negative association between social media use and adolescent well-being, rather than no association. The Discussion (p. 14) says the observed associations could be spurious, which supports the claim’s cautious ‘may not’ framing. The paper studies adolescents, however, and does not establish whether the relationship is absent in general-population studies. (LLM, conf=0.82)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The effects of social media on psychiatric symptoms for individuals living with more severe mental illnesses have received less attention.

Among survey respondents using 7 to 11 social media platforms compared to those using 2 or fewer, there was 3 times greater odds of having high levels of depressive symptoms.

“Among survey respondents using between 7 and 11 different social media platforms compared to respondents using only 2 or fewer platforms, there was a 3 times greater odds of having high levels of depressive symptoms”

• cites Primack et al., 2017 sourceSupported

Lack of support is one of the largest barriers toward exercise in patients with serious mental illness.

“The intervention holds tremendous promise as lack of support is one of the largest barriers toward exercise in patients with serious mental illness (Firth et al., 2016) and it is now possible to use social media to counter such.”

• cites Firth et al., 2016 sourceSupported

A study mapped the spread of social media posts about the Blue Whale Challenge, an alleged game promoting suicide, over Twitter, YouTube, Reddit, Tumblr and other forums across 127 countries.

“Another study was able to map the spread of social media posts about the Blue Whale Challenge, an alleged game promoting suicide, over Twitter, YouTube, Reddit, Tumblr and other forums across 127 countries (Sumner et al., 2019)”

• cites Sumner et al., 2019 sourceSupported

Many individuals living with mental disorders have expressed interest in accessing evidence-based mental health services delivered over social media specifically for coping with mental health symptoms or for promoting overall health and wellbeing.

“accessing evidence-based mental health services delivered over social media specifically for coping with mental health symptoms or for promoting overall health and wellbeing (Naslund et al., 2017).”

• cites Naslund et al., 2017 sourceSupported

In patients with psychosis, social media use appeared to predict low mood.

“social media use appeared to predict low mood (Berry, Emsley, Lobban, & Bucci, 2018)”

• cites Berry, Emsley, Lobban, & Bucci, 2018 sourceSupported

Harmful content can travel quickly on social media.

“demonstrating that harmful content can travel quickly on social media (Saha et al., 2019)”

• cites Saha et al., 2019 sourceSupported

The cross-sectional nature of many screen time and mental health studies makes it challenging to reach causal inferences.

“Still, the cross sectional nature of many screen time and mental health studies makes it challenging to reach causal inferences (Orben & Przybylski, 2019).”

• cites Orben & Przybylski, 2019 sourceSupported

In a survey of social media users with mental illness, sharing personal experiences about living with mental illness and opportunities to learn coping strategies from others were important reasons for using social media.

“In a survey of social media users with mental illness, respondents reported that sharing personal experiences about living with mental illness and opportunities to learn about strategies for coping with mental illness from others were important reasons for using social media (Naslund et al., 2017).”

• cites Naslund et al., 2017 sourceSupported

The Facebook component of PeerFIT appears to have increased engagement in the program.

“while the Facebook component appears to have increased engagement in the program, while allowing participants who were unable to attend in-person sessions due to other health concerns or competing demands to remain connected with the program (Naslund, Aschbrenner, Marsch, McHugo, & Bartels, 2018).”

• cites Naslund, Aschbrenner, Marsch, McHugo, & Bartels, 2018 sourcePartly supported

  The Discussion (page unavailable) reports substantial Facebook interaction and suggests that participants unable to attend in-person sessions may have remained connected through the group. It also cautions that Facebook use may not indicate overall program engagement; the Results report no significant attendance difference. The paper does not identify health concerns or competing demands as reasons for missed sessions. (LLM, conf=0.86)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Among survey respondents using 7 to 11 social media platforms compared to those using 2 or fewer, there was 3.2 times greater odds of having high levels of anxiety symptoms.

“and a 3.2 times greater odds of having high levels of anxiety symptoms (Primack et al., 2017).”

• cites Primack et al., 2017 sourceSupported

A survey of social media users with mental illness found that most respondents were interested in accessing programs for mental health on social media targeting symptom management, health promotion, and support for communicating with health care providers and interacting with the health system.

“A survey of social media users with mental illness found that most respondents were interested in accessing programs for mental health on social media targeting symptom management, health promotion, and support for communicating with health care providers and interacting with the health system (Naslund et al., 2017).”

• cites Naslund et al., 2017 sourceSupported

Compared to a control group, Twitter users with a self-disclosed diagnosis of schizophrenia show unique online communication patterns.

“Several studies have also demonstrated that when compared to a control group, Twitter users with a self-disclosed diagnosis of schizophrenia show unique online communication patterns (Michael L Birnbaum, Ernala, Rizvi, De Choudhury, & Kane, 2017), including more frequent discussion of tobacco use (Hswen et al., 2017), symptoms of depression and anxiety (Hswen, Naslund, Brownstein, & Hawkins, 2018b”

• cites Michael L Birnbaum, Ernala, Rizvi, De Choudhury, & Kane, 2017 sourceSupported

Twitter users with a self-disclosed diagnosis of schizophrenia more frequently discuss symptoms of depression and anxiety.

“Several studies have also demonstrated that when compared to a control group, Twitter users with a self-disclosed diagnosis of schizophrenia show unique online communication patterns (Michael L Birnbaum, Ernala, Rizvi, De Choudhury, & Kane, 2017), including more frequent discussion of tobacco use (Hswen et al., 2017), symptoms of depression and anxiety (Hswen, Naslund, Brownstein, & Hawkins, 2018b”

• cites Hswen, Naslund, Brownstein, & Hawkins, 2018b sourceSupported

Social media use appears to have a differential impact on mental health and emotional wellbeing between females and males.

“Social media use also appears to have a differential impact on mental health and emotional wellbeing between females and males (Booker, Kelly, & Sacker, 2018)”

• cites Booker, Kelly, & Sacker, 2018 sourceSupported

Most people access social media via mobile devices.

“Given that most people access social media via mobile devices, digital phenotyping and social media are closely related (Torous et al., 2019).”

• cites Torous et al., 2019 sourceCould not verify

  The ‘Unmet Needs for the Digital Mental Health Field’ section discusses smartphone sensing and digital phenotyping, but does not say how most people access social media. Searches for social-media use and mobile-device access found no passage addressing that claim; page numbers were unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.74)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Individuals living with mental illness have expressed interest in accessing mental health services through social media platforms.

“Research has found that individuals living with mental illness have expressed interest in accessing mental health services through social media platforms.”

• cites Naslund et al., 2017 sourceSupported

Social media has become an important part of the lives of many individuals living with mental disorders.

“As highlighted in this commentary, social media has become an important part of the lives of many individuals living with mental disorders.”

• cites Bucci et al., 2019 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Highton-Williamson et al., 2015 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Naslund, Aschbrenner, et al., 2016b sourceSupported

Twitter users with a self-disclosed diagnosis of schizophrenia more frequently discuss suicide.

“Several studies have also demonstrated that when compared to a control group, Twitter users with a self-disclosed diagnosis of schizophrenia show unique online communication patterns (Michael L Birnbaum, Ernala, Rizvi, De Choudhury, & Kane, 2017), including more frequent discussion of tobacco use (Hswen et al., 2017), symptoms of depression and anxiety (Hswen, Naslund, Brownstein, & Hawkins, 2018b”

• cites Hswen, Naslund, Brownstein, & Hawkins, 2018a sourceSupported

Twitter users with a self-disclosed diagnosis of schizophrenia more frequently discuss tobacco use.

“Several studies have also demonstrated that when compared to a control group, Twitter users with a self-disclosed diagnosis of schizophrenia show unique online communication patterns (Michael L Birnbaum, Ernala, Rizvi, De Choudhury, & Kane, 2017), including more frequent discussion of tobacco use (Hswen et al., 2017), symptoms of depression and anxiety (Hswen, Naslund, Brownstein, & Hawkins, 2018b”

• cites Hswen et al., 2017 sourceSupported

Data is typically captured from social media platforms without the consent or awareness of users.

“For instance, data is typically captured from social media platforms without the consent or awareness of users (Bidargaddi et al., 2017), which is especially crucial when the data relates to a socially stigmatizing health condition such as mental illness (Guntuku, Yaden, Kern, Ungar, & Eichstaedt, 2017).”

• cites Bidargaddi et al., 2017 sourcePartly supported

  In “What are digital footprints?” (page unavailable), the paper identifies social-media activity as a source of passively generated data. “Ethical challenges” says commercial data were not purposely collected with prior consent for mental-health use, and “Data collection from different sources” says users often have little understanding or control of their digital footprints. It does not establish that social-media data are typically captured without users’ consent or awareness; lack of consent for mental-health use is narrower than lack of consent to collection. (LLM, conf=0.83)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Many individuals living with mental illness use social media to search for information about their mental health.

“In recognizing that many individuals living with mental illness use social media to search for information about their mental health, it is possible that they may also want to ask their clinicians about what they find online to check if the information is reliable and trustworthy.”

• cites Bucci et al., 2019 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Highton-Williamson et al., 2015 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Naslund, Aschbrenner, et al., 2016b sourceSupported

Many individuals living with mental disorders use social media to share their lived experiences with mental illness.

“Many of these individuals use social media to share their lived experiences with mental illness, to seek support from others, and to search for information about treatment recommendations, accessing mental health services, and coping with symptoms (Bucci et al., 2019; Highton-Williamson et al., 2015; Naslund, Aschbrenner, et al., 2016b).”

• cites Bucci et al., 2019 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Highton-Williamson et al., 2015 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Naslund, Aschbrenner, et al., 2016b sourceSupported

A recent study of social media users with serious mental illnesses found that over one third of participants expressed concerns about privacy when using social media.

“found that over one third of participants expressed concerns about privacy when using social media (Naslund & Aschbrenner, 2019)”

• cites Naslund & Aschbrenner, 2019 sourceSupported

Many individuals living with mental disorders use social media to seek support from others.

“Many of these individuals use social media to share their lived experiences with mental illness, to seek support from others, and to search for information about treatment recommendations, accessing mental health services, and coping with symptoms (Bucci et al., 2019; Highton-Williamson et al., 2015; Naslund, Aschbrenner, et al., 2016b).”

• cites Bucci et al., 2019 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Highton-Williamson et al., 2015 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Naslund, Aschbrenner, et al., 2016b sourceSupported

Many individuals living with mental disorders use social media to search for information about treatment recommendations, accessing mental health services, and coping with symptoms.

“Many of these individuals use social media to share their lived experiences with mental illness, to seek support from others, and to search for information about treatment recommendations, accessing mental health services, and coping with symptoms (Bucci et al., 2019; Highton-Williamson et al., 2015; Naslund, Aschbrenner, et al., 2016b).”

• cites Bucci et al., 2019 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Highton-Williamson et al., 2015 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Naslund, Aschbrenner, et al., 2016b sourceSupported

Most studies described in this commentary were from the United States or other higher income settings such as Australia or the United Kingdom.

“Most of the studies that we described were from the United States, as well as from other higher income settings such as Australia or the United Kingdom.”

Across the United States and globally, very few people living with mental illness have access to adequate mental health services.

“Across the United States and globally, very few people living with mental illness have access to adequate mental health services (Patel et al., 2018).”

• cites Patel et al., 2018 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

The wide reach and near ubiquitous use of social media platforms may afford novel opportunities to address shortfalls in existing mental health care by enhancing the quality, availability, and reach of services.

“The wide reach and near ubiquitous use of social media platforms may afford novel opportunities to address these shortfalls in existing mental health care, by enhancing the quality, availability, and reach of services.”

Individuals with schizophrenia appeared to use online self-help forums for self-disclosure, sharing personal experiences, providing or requesting information, describing symptoms, or discussing medication.

“Initial studies exploring use of online self-help forums among individuals with serious mental illnesses have found that individuals with schizophrenia appeared to use these forums for self-disclosure, and sharing personal experiences, in addition to providing or requesting information, describing symptoms, or discussing medication (Haker, Lauber, & Rössler, 2005)”

• cites Haker, Lauber, & Rössler, 2005 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

The symptoms of mental disorders may reinforce the perceived relative advantage of using social media over in-person conversations for individuals with mental disorders.

“thus, potentially reinforcing the relative advantage, as perceived by users, of using social media over in person conversations.”

More frequent use of social media among a sample of individuals with serious mental illness was associated with greater civic engagement, reflected as voting in local elections.

“as well as greater civic engagement, reflected as voting in local elections (Brusilovskiy et al., 2016).”

• cites Brusilovskiy et al., 2016 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Among individuals receiving publicly funded mental health services who use social media, nearly half (47%) reported using these platforms at least weekly to feel less alone.

“Among individuals receiving publicly funded mental health services who use social media, nearly half (47%) reported using these platforms at least weekly to feel less alone (Brusilovskiy, Townley, Snethen, & Salzer, 2016).”

• cites Brusilovskiy, Townley, Snethen, & Salzer, 2016 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

In one study, participants with schizophrenia indicated that social media helped them to interact and socialize more easily.

“This was suggested in one study where participants with schizophrenia indicated that social media helped them to interact and socialize more easily (Miller et al., 2015).”

• cites Miller et al., 2015 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Of inpatients and outpatients with schizophrenia who used social media, 79% reported at least once-a-week usage of social media websites.

“of which 79% reported at least once-a-week usage of social media websites (Miller, Stewart, Schrimsher, Peeples, & Buckley, 2015).”

• cites Miller, Stewart, Schrimsher, Peeples, & Buckley, 2015 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

In another study of young adults with serious mental illness, most indicated that they used social media to help feel less isolated.

“In another study of young adults with serious mental illness, most indicated that they used social media to help feel less isolated (Gowen et al., 2012).”

• cites Gowen et al., 2012 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

The on-demand ease of communication on social media may be especially important for facilitating social interaction among individuals with mental disorders experiencing difficulties interacting in face-to-face settings.

“This on demand ease of communication may be especially important for facilitating social interaction among individuals with mental disorders experiencing difficulties interacting in face-to-face settings.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Social media platforms offer near continuous opportunities to connect and interact with others, regardless of time of day or geographic location.

Young people with moderate to severe depressive symptoms appear to prefer communicating on social media rather than in-person.

“Emerging research also shows that young people with moderate to severe depressive symptoms appear to prefer communicating on social media rather than in-person (Rideout & Fox, 2018)”

• cites Rideout & Fox, 2018Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

More frequent use of social media among a sample of individuals with serious mental illness was associated with greater community participation, measured as participation in shopping, work, religious activities or visiting friends and family.

“more frequent use of social media among a sample of individuals with serious mental illness was associated with greater community participation, measured as participation in shopping, work, religious activities or visiting friends and family”

• cites Brusilovskiy et al., 2016 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Individuals living with serious mental disorders typically have few social contacts in the offline world.

“individuals living with serious mental disorders typically have few social contacts in the offline world”

• cites Badcock et al., 2015 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Giacco, Palumbo, Strappelli, Catapano, & Priebe, 2016 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

47% of inpatients and outpatients with schizophrenia reported using social media.

“while 47% of inpatients and outpatients with schizophrenia reported using social media”

• cites Miller, Stewart, Schrimsher, Peeples, & Buckley, 2015 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Individuals living with serious mental disorders experience high rates of loneliness.

“and also experience high rates of loneliness (Badcock et al., 2015; Giacco, Palumbo, Strappelli, Catapano, & Priebe, 2016).”

• cites Badcock et al., 2015 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Giacco, Palumbo, Strappelli, Catapano, & Priebe, 2016 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

68% of those with first episode psychosis used social media daily.

“Similar results, with 68% of those with first episode psychosis using social media daily were reported in another study (Abdel-Baki, Lal, D.-Charron, Stip, & Kara, 2017).”

• cites Abdel-Baki, Lal, D.-Charron, Stip, & Kara, 2017 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

The ability to connect with others anonymously may be an important feature of social media, especially for individuals living with highly stigmatizing health conditions such as serious mental disorders.

“Like other online communication, the ability to connect with others anonymously may be an important feature of social media, especially for individuals living with highly stigmatizing health conditions (Berger, Wagner, & Baker, 2005), such as serious mental disorders (Highton-Williamson, Priebe, & Giacco, 2015).”

• cites Berger, Wagner, & Baker, 2005 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Highton-Williamson, Priebe, & Giacco, 2015 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Because social media does not require the immediate responses necessary in face-to-face communication, it may overcome deficits with social interaction due to psychotic symptoms that typically adversely affect face-to-face conversations.

“Because social media does not require the immediate responses necessary in face-to-face communication, it may overcome deficits with social interaction due to psychotic symptoms that typically adversely affect face-to-face conversations (Docherty et al., 1996).”

• cites Docherty et al., 1996 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Social media does not require the immediate responses necessary in face-to-face communication.

Users with bipolar disorder reported using online self-help forums to ask for help from others about their illness.

“while users with bipolar disorder reported using these forums to ask for help from others about their illness (Vayreda & Antaki, 2009).”

• cites Vayreda & Antaki, 2009 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Social media may facilitate communication and interacting with others for individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

“social media may facilitate communication and interacting with others for these individuals (Torous & Keshavan, 2016).”

• cites Torous & Keshavan, 2016 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Online social interactions may not require the use of non-verbal cues, particularly in the initial stages of interaction.

“Online social interactions may not require the use of non-verbal cues, particularly in the initial stages of interaction (Kiesler, Siegel, & McGuire, 1984)”

• cites Kiesler, Siegel, & McGuire, 1984 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Impaired social functioning is a common deficit in schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

“impaired social functioning is a common deficit in schizophrenia spectrum disorders”

• cites Torous & Keshavan, 2016 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Many individuals living with mental disorders have expressed interest in using social media platforms for seeking mental health information.

“Many individuals living with mental disorders have expressed interest in using social media platforms for seeking mental health information (Lal, Nguyen, & Theriault, 2018)”

• cites Lal, Nguyen, & Theriault, 2018 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

In a nationally representative survey of US adolescents, more time accessing media such as social media platforms or smartphone devices was associated with significantly greater depressive symptoms compared to more time on non-screen activities.

“among respondents who reported more time accessing media such as social media platforms or smartphone devices, there was significantly greater depressive symptoms and increased risk of suicide when compared to adolescents who reported spending more time on non-screen activities”

• cites Twenge, Joiner, Rogers, & Martin, 2018 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Taken together, the reviewed studies offer insights about the potential for social media to facilitate access to an informal peer support network.

“Taken together, these studies offer insights about the potential for social media to facilitate access to an informal peer support network, though more research is necessary to examine how these online interactions may impact intentions to seek care, illness self-management, and clinically meaningful outcomes in offline contexts.”

It is now possible to use social media to counter lack of support for exercise in patients with serious mental illness.

“and it is now possible to use social media to counter such.”

Cyberbullying on social media consistently shows harmful impact on mental health in the form of increased depressive symptoms and worsening of anxiety symptoms, as evidenced in a review of 36 studies among children and young people.

“cyberbullying on social media consistently shows harmful impact on mental health in the form of increased depressive symptoms as well as worsening of anxiety symptoms, as evidenced in a review of 36 studies among children and young people (Hamm et al., 2015)”

• cites Hamm et al., 2015 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Use of digital environments with the interactive peer-to-peer features of social media can enhance social functioning and wellbeing in young people at high risk of psychosis.

“Other early efforts have demonstrated that use of digital environments with the interactive peer-to-peer features of social media can enhance social functioning and wellbeing in young people at high risk of psychosis (Alvarez-Jimenez et al., 2018).”

• cites Alvarez-Jimenez et al., 2018 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

It may be possible to leverage the popular features of social media to enhance existing mental health programs and services.

“With the widespread use of social media among individuals living with mental illness combined with the potential to facilitate social interaction and connect with supportive peers, as summarized above, it may be possible to leverage the popular features of social media to enhance existing mental health programs and services.”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Social media is widely used among individuals living with mental illness.

A pilot study of the HORYZONS online psychosocial intervention demonstrated significant reductions in depression among patients with first episode psychosis.

“Among digital programs that have incorporated peer-to-peer social networking consistent with popular features on social media platforms, a pilot study of the HORYZONS online psychosocial intervention demonstrated significant reductions in depression among patients with first episode psychosis (Alvarez-Jimenez et al., 2013).”

• cites Alvarez-Jimenez et al., 2013 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Research shows greater risk of hostility, including increased violence and discrimination, directed towards individuals living with mental illness in in-person contexts, especially targeted at those with severe mental illnesses.

“research showing greater risk of hostility, including increased violence and discrimination, directed towards individuals living with mental illness in in-person contexts, especially targeted at those with severe mental illnesses (Goodman et al., 1999)”

• cites Goodman et al., 1999 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

One longitudinal study in Switzerland found that cyberbullying contributed to significantly greater depression over time.

“one longitudinal study in Switzerland found that cyberbullying contributed to significantly greater depression over time (Machmutow, Perren, Sticca, & Alsaker, 2012)”

• cites Machmutow, Perren, Sticca, & Alsaker, 2012 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Social media platforms could also be used to promote engagement and participation in in-person services delivered through community mental health settings.

“Social media platforms could also be used to promote engagement and participation in in-person services delivered through community mental health settings.”

In a nationally representative survey of US adolescents, more time accessing media such as social media platforms or smartphone devices was associated with increased risk of suicide compared to more time on non-screen activities.

“among respondents who reported more time accessing media such as social media platforms or smartphone devices, there was significantly greater depressive symptoms and increased risk of suicide when compared to adolescents who reported spending more time on non-screen activities”

• cites Twenge, Joiner, Rogers, & Martin, 2018 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

The association between social media use and mental health symptoms may be partly driven by the detrimental effects of screen time on mental health.

“This may partly be driven by the detrimental effects of screen time on mental health, including increased severity of anxiety and depressive symptoms, which have been well documented (Stiglic & Viner, 2019).”

For youth ages 10 to 17 who reported major depressive symptomatology, there was over 3 times greater odds of facing online harassment in the last year compared to youth who reported mild or no depressive symptoms.

“For youth ages 10 to 17 who reported major depressive symptomatology, there was over 3 times greater odds of facing online harassment in the last year compared to youth who reported mild or no depressive symptoms (Ybarra, 2004)”

• cites Ybarra, 2004 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Most studies report cross-sectional associations between cyberbullying and symptoms of depression or anxiety.

“Most studies report cross-sectional associations between cyberbullying and symptoms of depression or anxiety (Hamm et al., 2015)”

• cites Hamm et al., 2015 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

In a study of young adults, negative comparisons with others on Facebook contributed to risk of rumination and subsequent increases in depression symptoms.

“In a study of young adults, it was found that negative comparisons with others on Facebook contributed to risk of rumination and subsequent increases in depression symptoms (Feinstein et al., 2013).”

• cites Feinstein et al., 2013 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

In a 2018 national survey of young people, respondents ages 14 to 22 with moderate to severe depressive symptoms were more likely to report having faced hostile comments, or being "trolled", from others when compared to respondents without depressive symptoms (31% vs. 14%).

“respondents ages 14 to 22 with moderate to severe depressive symptoms were more likely to have had negative experiences when using social media, and in particular, were more likely to report having faced hostile comments, or being “trolled”, from others when compared to respondents without depressive symptoms (31% vs. 14%) (Rideout & Fox, 2018)”

• cites Rideout & Fox, 2018Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Incorporating features of popular social media into existing programs may offer opportunities to safely promote engagement and program retention while achieving improved clinical outcomes.

“These examples highlight the promise of incorporating the features of popular social media into existing programs, which may offer opportunities to safely promote engagement and program retention, while achieving improved clinical outcomes.”

More time spent using social media is associated with greater symptoms of anxiety.

“More time spent using social media is also associated with greater symptoms of anxiety (Vannucci, Flannery, & Ohannessian, 2017).”

• cites Vannucci, Flannery, & Ohannessian, 2017 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Social media use can result in serious consequences for daily life, including threats to employment and personal relationships.

“can result in serious consequences for daily life, including threats to employment and personal relationships”

Twitter conversations have been analyzed to detect users' mood and affective states.

“Specifically, conversations on Twitter have been analyzed to characterize the onset of depression (De Choudhury, Gamon, Counts, & Horvitz, 2013) as well as detecting users’ mood and affective states (De Choudhury, Gamon, & Counts, 2012), while photos posted to Instagram can yield insights for predicting depression (Reece & Danforth, 2017).”

• cites De Choudhury, Gamon, & Counts, 2012Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Photos posted to Instagram can yield insights for predicting depression.

“Specifically, conversations on Twitter have been analyzed to characterize the onset of depression (De Choudhury, Gamon, Counts, & Horvitz, 2013) as well as detecting users’ mood and affective states (De Choudhury, Gamon, & Counts, 2012), while photos posted to Instagram can yield insights for predicting depression (Reece & Danforth, 2017).”

• cites Reece & Danforth, 2017Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Use of social media platforms may contribute to risks that extend beyond worsening symptoms and that can affect different aspects of daily life for individuals living with mental illness.

“use of these platforms may contribute to risks that extend beyond worsening symptoms and that can affect different aspects of daily life”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Few studies have specifically explored the dangers of social media use from the perspectives of individuals living with mental illness.

Negative findings may go unpublished.

“We found many studies that highlighted risks associated with social media use for individuals living with mental illness; however, few studies of programs or interventions reported negative findings, suggesting the possibility that negative findings may go unpublished.”

Digital phenotyping and social media are closely related.

“Given that most people access social media via mobile devices, digital phenotyping and social media are closely related (Torous et al., 2019).”

Machine learning has made it possible to study large quantities of data captured from popular social media platforms such as Twitter or Instagram to illuminate various features of mental health.

“To date, the emergence of machine learning, a powerful computational method involving statistical and mathematical algorithms (Shatte, Hutchinson, & Teague, 2019), has made it possible to study large quantities of data captured from popular social media platforms such as Twitter or Instagram to illuminate various features of mental health (Manikonda & De Choudhury, 2017; Reece et al., 2017).”

• cites Shatte, Hutchinson, & Teague, 2019 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Manikonda & De Choudhury, 2017 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Reece et al., 2017Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Social media use can potentially expose individuals to hurtful content and hostile interactions.

“can potentially expose individuals to hurtful content and hostile interactions”

The lack of consent or awareness is especially crucial when the data relates to a socially stigmatizing health condition such as mental illness.

“For instance, data is typically captured from social media platforms without the consent or awareness of users (Bidargaddi et al., 2017), which is especially crucial when the data relates to a socially stigmatizing health condition such as mental illness (Guntuku, Yaden, Kern, Ungar, & Eichstaedt, 2017).”

• cites Guntuku, Yaden, Kern, Ungar, & Eichstaedt, 2017 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Mental illness is a socially stigmatizing health condition.

Reports have described risks of social media use pertaining to privacy, confidentiality, and unintended consequences of disclosing personal health information online.

“reports have described risks of social media use pertaining to privacy, confidentiality, and unintended consequences of disclosing personal health information online (Torous & Keshavan, 2016)”

• cites Torous & Keshavan, 2016 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Social media data can yield valuable insights about mental health states.

“With research increasingly showing the valuable insights that social media data can yield about mental health states, greater attention to the ethical concerns with using individual data in this way is necessary (Chancellor, Birnbaum, Caine, Silenzio, & De Choudhury, 2019).”

Social media use can have negative effects on mental health symptoms.

“it is clear from the studies summarized here that social media use can have negative effects on mental health symptoms”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The associations between social media use and mental health symptoms observed in the summarized studies reflect causal effects of social media use.

Twitter conversations have been analyzed to characterize the onset of depression.

“Specifically, conversations on Twitter have been analyzed to characterize the onset of depression (De Choudhury, Gamon, Counts, & Horvitz, 2013) as well as detecting users’ mood and affective states (De Choudhury, Gamon, & Counts, 2012), while photos posted to Instagram can yield insights for predicting depression (Reece & Danforth, 2017).”

• cites De Choudhury, Gamon, Counts, & Horvitz, 2013Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Exposure to traumatic online content on social media showing violence or hateful posts directed at racial minorities contributed to increases in psychological distress, PTSD symptoms, and depression among African American and Latinx adolescents in the United States.

“A recent study found that exposure to traumatic online content on social media showing violence or hateful posts directed at racial minorities contributed to increases in psychological distress, PTSD symptoms, and depression among African American and Latinx adolescents in the United States (Tynes, Willis, Stewart, & Hamilton, 2019).”

• cites Tynes, Willis, Stewart, & Hamilton, 2019 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Online disclosures about mental illness appeared beneficial, as reflected by fewer posts about symptoms following self-disclosure.

“Another study found that online disclosures about mental illness appeared beneficial as reflected by fewer posts about symptoms following self-disclosure (Ernala, Rizvi, Birnbaum, Kane, & De Choudhury, 2017).”

• cites Ernala, Rizvi, Birnbaum, Kane, & De Choudhury, 2017 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Widely available online data can potentially be leveraged for better understanding the onset and course of mental illness.

“Each of these examples offers early insights into the potential to leverage widely available online data for better understanding the onset and course of mental illness.”

In the same survey, there did not appear to be any differences between racial or ethnic groups in social media use for seeking mental health information.

“there did not appear to be any differences between racial or ethnic groups in social media use for seeking mental health information (Rideout & Fox, 2018)”

• cites Rideout & Fox, 2018Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.