Cork Views: How social media can ramp up anxiety levels

Mental disorders among the general population are very high in Ireland and across the EU. Disorders have been rising and will rise further.

The mental health deterioration among young people is of particular concern. But many in this group, in trying to support each other, due to having real worries, may unintentionally be elevating these worries to psychological distress, in their use of social media,

Starting with the data, there was a global increase in the incidence of mental disorders among the general population of 15% between 1990 and 2001, with a growth of 18% in Western Europe. Researchers put this largely down to the growth in population, with some also noting increased societal pressures as a factor.

Nonetheless, there are a growing number of cases. More alarmingly, a large-scale Harvard study in 2023, published in The Lancet, estimated that one in two people will experience a mental health disorder in their lifetime. This is double the long-standing view of the Irish Mental Health Commission, that one in four people will develop a mental health disorder in their lifetime.

An OECD report in 2020 on the EU 28 countries reported an average of 17.3% of people having a mental health problem, with 18.5% of Irish people - joint third of the 28 countries.

A more recent Maynooth/TCD study specifically on Ireland put the figure for the incidence of mental disorders among Irish adults at 42%, while also noting 1% have attempted suicide. The most common disorders were: Insomnia Disorder (15%), Major Depressive Disorder (12%), Alcohol Use Disorder (9%), and General Anxiety Disorder (7%)

Now, let’s turn specifically to the 15-29 age group. The Institute for Mental Health Metrics and Evaluation reported that in the EU, 17.4% have been diagnosed with a mental health disorders, equating to 14 million cases.

However, psychological disorders among that age cohort in the last 20 years are on the increase, according to The World Health Organisation, with depression, anxiety, and stress disorders now far more common.

More alarmingly, using a different measure, the Council of the European Union reports 49% of 15-29 years have ‘declared unmet needs in mental health care, compared to 23% of the adult population’.

Researchers suspect many contributing factors including employment problems, increased competition in trying to succeed, the erosion of positive social values such as solidarity and caring in society, existential threats such as climate change, social media, and technology.

Many of these have been around for years, so particular attention is being focused on social media and its negative effect on the mental health of young people. This is the one big social change of the past 25 years or so.

While younger people use social media as a support mechanism, and their increased discussion can reduce stigma, it also has the potential to socially ‘transmit’ mental health problems from one person to the other. The US Surgeon General’s report in 2023 advised that frequent use of social media among teenagers is associated with increased risk of depression and anxiety.

Younger people with mental health challenges, in attempting to support themselves on social media, can create a domino effect of socially transmitting various mental health problems to each other. Added to this are the negative effects of ‘body beautiful’ images, Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), and the influence of peer groups in contributing to harmful behaviours.

Numerous studies take the Surgeon General’s report further, claiming that over-use of social media by younger people is associated with increased fear about issues which arise in living their everyday lives, resulting in excessive worry around issues such as their education, work, weight, their future, etc.

Dwelling on these negative thoughts can make the sufferer worse and make others feel worse too, as the negative messages are socially transmitted via social media. What might start as a normal everyday worry can, in this process, finish up as significant mental distress, anxiety and depression.

Social media is full of ‘influencers’ who set themselves up as mental health experts for young people, when they clearly are not. Names of serious mental health conditions such as PTSD and OCD are ordained on young people by influencers, their peers and even themselves, whether diagnosed or not.

Yes, real problems around many issues such as pay, working conditions, sexuality, housing etc. do exist, and there are real worries. But social transmission can amplify what are very often solvable problems, or even simple misunderstandings, and from there in to real psychological distress for younger people.

Having taught students for many years, I can bear witness to the amplification of worry, arising from something very simple: a lecturer sets an assignment in writing on the VLE ( Virtual Learning Environment) system. A simple question is asked by one student. A clear answer is given by the lecturer. A small number of students get nervous of their understanding. They share it on social media. Pretty soon, the whole class is confused and worried. Some get psychologically distressed.

Younger people need to be educated at all levels of the education system, on how psychological distress can be created and exacerbated by use of social media.

Critical media literacy education and training can help young people from being sucked in to the vortex of harmful influence of celebrities, social influencers or bullies.

The full suite of psychological and medical interventions also need to be made far more available to those who need them.

Young people do have real issues in areas such as housing, employment, sexuality, climate change, and others. These need to be dealt with by governments and society as a whole. But, reducing the social transmission of psychological distress, and dealing with the increased level of distress it causes in the meantime, requires specific solutions in their own right.