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Before I break into what I think are the good, the bad and the revolutionary aspects of the internet when it comes to mental health, I’d like to just take a moment to explain how it is that I come to be here today, talking about mental health and the internet.
My position on the subject comes from two angles.
Firstly, as someone who has experienced mental health problems. Following a diagnosis of potential bipolar disorder approximately 13 or 14 years ago, I started a journey towards recovery. Following a few years on medication and another few years of therapy I reached a point where I could manage my mental health without medication or any specific diagnosis. The internet played a huge part in that journey and continues to do so to this day.
Secondly, I write from a professional perspective. Having run my own print publication for a number a years, in 2008 I decided to explore the possibilities of online publishing. Since then I have studied blogging, social media, online marketing and search engine optimisation extensively and last year launched The Mind Sanctuary website, bringing my life and work experience and passions together.
So, without further ado, let’s take a deeper look at mental health and the internet, the good, the bad and the revolutionary.
Internet Statistics
To put things into context, I’d just like to highlight a few key internet statistics. We can’t really assess the value of the internet in any arena, if we don’t know some essential information, such as how many people actually use the internet and what they use it for.
In 2010 30.1 million adults in the UK logged on to the internet every day. That’s a staggering 60% of the adult population using the internet on a regular basis. The growth far exceeds predictions from previous years and with the upsurge of gadgets, smartphones and wifi areas, is set to continue. No longer do you need a modem and a computer, now all you need is a mobile phone contract and away you go – chatting to friends on facebook – which incidentally has 28 million users in the UK and 500 million users worldwide! (Those statistics have already changed to 600m users worldwide)
There hasn’t been much research into the use of the internet for mental health purposes, so there aren’t really any statistics specific to the number of people using the internet for mental health. However, we do know that 68% of all internet users use the internet to find information relating to health care. We also know that according to google – approximately 5 million people search google for information relating to depression alone, every month.
So, with these statistics in mind, how can the internet help people who are experiencing problems with their mental health?
Mental Health & The Internet – The GOOD
Access to Information Without Disclosure
As we all know, the internet is home to a mass of information. If in doubt… ask google! Now, everyone can find an answer to anything. Simply type a question into the google search engines and you’ll find a mass of websites containing information that in some way relates to your question.
As an example I typed “overcoming depression” into google while writing this, and 664,000 results were returned.
When it comes to mental health, the beauty of this is that an individual can search for information anonymously. With the perceived stigma around mental illness, it is fair to assume that many people in need of help may not feel able to come forward and put themselves openly in front of someone in order to get the support or information they need. By enabling people to access information without the need for them to disclose their identity, the internet makes information relating to mental health care more accessible to more people.
Connection and Communities
Perhaps one of the most revolutionary aspects of the internet, certainly for me, is the way that it has opened up communications between people interested in similar subjects. Through forums and social networking applications like twitter and facebook, it is easy to connect with someone who shares the same interests as you, or has shared experiences.
Not only does this provide connection to people who may otherwise have been isolated due to location or other challenges, but it also enables people experiencing mental health issues to connect with others who have had similar experiences. Through this network, individuals can establish an immensely strong support networks, and find the peace of mind and reassurance that comes with realising that you are not alone… others have also experienced similar difficulties to you…
This doesn’t just relate to people who have already been diagnosed with a mental illness or condition, but to anyone who may be struggling to fit in. I know that for years, on the lead up to my own breakdowns, I struggled to fit in. I can be a little unconventional at times, and I often wondered “what was wrong with me”, “why wasn’t I the same as everybody else?” Through the friends I made online I now know that there are loads of people who share my opinions and ideas. There is, in fact, nothing wrong with me! I am just different in some ways! The internet enabled me to break into different social circles that would have been near impossible in the offline world – being a part of those social circles has helped my emotional and psychological wellbeing significantly – and strengthened my confidence to interact and be myself in the real world!
Having a Voice
Finally we reach the power of publishing! Now, thanks to the introduction of the blog, anyone can be a publisher. All you need is access to the internet, and the know how to navigate user friendly platforms, such as www.blogger.com, and you can write and publish your own story. No longer is the news limited or filtered by editors of magazines and newspapers. Each individual can publish their own story anonymously or put their name to it – it doesn’t matter.
Blogging has become an immensely therapeutic tool. Some people find that just airing their thoughts and feelings acts as therapy and some use blogging to share their experiences so that others may gain inspiration and hope. Peer support has exploded as individuals experiencing mental health issues forge connections with others and publish their individual or combined stories.
I’m not sure why, maybe it’s because of the sense of celebration that comes with finally connecting with like minded individuals, but whatever the reason , there is also a very clear sense of support and warmth within the communities that are established.
I spoke to Linda Jones, mental health journalist and founder of Breaking the Silence Blog. From her experience of publishing the personal stories of many people who wanted to share their experience with a wider audience, was that every time, there would be a wave of support come through by the means of comments and feedback.
In her words, blogging enables us to challenge stereotypes, open discussions and start debates in a supportive community environment.
Each day, I issue a newspaper via twitter called The Mental Health Bloggers Daily. It is an automatically generated newspaper that selects random links and tweets from a list I have compiled of people blogging about their personal experience of mental health. The list is currently sitting at 68 and the newspaper was acknowledged by the Guardian online as a valuable resource.
Mental Health & The Internet – The BAD
I hope you can see the revolutionary aspects within all of those points, however there are also some potential pitfalls went it comes to mental health and internet.
Information Overload
Having access to information at the speed we currently do is fantastic, but the draw backs are that everybody is competing for space in the information market place. There is masses of information, some of it good, some it okay, and some if it downright terrible. Finding a reliable and credible source of information is essential to prevent information overload. You also need to be aware that when researching a subject on the internet you are likely to encounter conflicting information. Have a strategy for dealing with this kind of conflict so that it doesn’t throw you off key.
Isolation
As mentioned previously, the internet enables you to connect with like minded individuals from around the world, which can reduce the feeling of isolation. However, this virtual connection can lead to an increase in isolation in the physical world. As individuals prefer to spend time connecting with people who understand them over the internet, they feel less inclined to go out and connect with people in the real world. Using the internet to forge local communities and connections, and combining the benefits of the internet with local services and groups can help to prevent this scenario.
Vulnerability and privacy
Whilst most people receive support and warmth when publishing or discussing their experiences of mental health either openly or anonymously via the internet, individuals needs to be aware that they are also open to receive sterner comments or even abuse. This happens very infrequently and all comments on blogs can be moderated or deleted – but still the person publishing will see the comment. And when forging relationships with people over the internet it can be tempting to provide personal information relating to birthdays, addresses, telephone numbers etc. Be mindful of where you disclose your private information so that it isn’t open to fraudulent use. Check the privacy settings on any application/network you join and establish a boundary for taking conversations into other modes of communication, such as the telephone.
Internet Stress
According to a recent article in the New Statesman, facebook can actually be a source of stress and the more ‘friends’ you have, the more likely you are to feel stressed. Psychologists from Edinburgh Napier University surveyed 200 students and found that 12% said facebook had made them feel anxious, 32% said that rejecting ‘friend’ requests had led to feelings of guilt and discomfort and 10% said they didn’t like getting ‘friend’ requests. Causes of tension included purging unwanted contact, having to use appropriate etiquette for different types of friends and the pressure to be inventive and entertaining.
Internet addiction
Opinion is divided over whether internet addiction is a disorder in its own right or an outward symptom of other disorders such as depression, anxiety, impulsive control disorder or pathological gambling. Maressa Orzack of Harvard University’s McLean Hospital says that between 5% and 10% of surfers suffer some form of web dependency. People who are addicted to the internet may suffer from emotional problems and often use the fantasy world of the internet to escape unpleasant feelings or stressful situations. There’s even an online test you can do to find out whether you are addicted! Read More…
Mental Health & The Internet – The REVOLUTIONARY
The internet gives people access to volumes of information that previous generations could only have dreamt of. That information and the connectivity the internet brings is empowering individuals and enabling communities to drive change. We have seen this recently with the revolution in Egypt and protests in other countries, which have been orchestrated by the facebook internet generation. We also saw the extraordinary story in China of a three year old who had been abducted and was found 2000 km away from his family home as a result of photo publicity on the internet; the internet achieved what the police were unable to.
Summary
As with money – it depends upon how you use the internet as to whether it is good or bad. To summarise I believe that the true power of the internet lays in its ability to facilitate changes and connections that are used to enhance your experience of the physical world – not replace it.
The article scratches the surface of a very meaty topic. I’ve recently started holding presentations on Mental Health and The Internet, if you would like me to talk to a group of individuals, therapists or organisations, please get in touch.
Additional Resources
Keeping Your Mental Health Safe on The Internet
