Paging Dr Influencer: Social Media & Psychiatric Self-Diagnosis

While social media has been a catalyst for mental health awareness, the unregulated dissemination of information by influencers lacking mental health expertise, perpetuates misinformation. Youth commonly self-diagnose mental health conditions based on social media content, often inaccurately, risking misidentification and inappropriate treatment. Psychiatric contagion, the process by which psychiatric symptoms spread among individuals in close contact, can occur via social media. The authors explore how these issues present in clinical practice, and some intervention strategies for clinicians. They offer recommendations for parents, teachers, social media companies, and clinicians.