A Perspective on TikTok’s Mental Health Epidemic

Since the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been an outpouring of videos focused on mental health or neurodivergence on TikTok, created mostly by laypeople and non-licensed “mental health advocates.” I argue that although these widespread videos and online discussions may appear beneficial for the destigmatization of mental illness, they are actually laced with misinformation,

 Has the pandemic really caused a mental health crisis?

Understandable human responses to difficult circumstances should not be framed as a ‘mental illness’ pandemic, writes Dr Lucy Johnstone, but Dr Annie Hickox says there has been a significant increase in cases over the past year.

 How to Understand—and Fight—the Mental Health Care Crisis in the U.S.

Whether you're trying to navigate the system yourself or help improve it for everyone, it's important to know what you're up against.

 Mental illness epidemic has kids killing kids. Uvalde school shooting is only the latest

Many details remain unclear, and sweeping early conclusions are dangerous. But we know we have a mental health crisis with our youth. We know there are no easy answers. And we know we must act.

 Mental illness: is there really a global epidemic?

First, to bust some myths: there is no global epidemic. It is not growing exponentially. It is not a disease of western capitalism. Second, a warning. Data is remarkably patchy. It relies on people self-reporting their feelings, never the best foundation for accurate information.

 Our mental health crashed in 2020. Recovery could take years

COVID-19, lockdowns and financial pressures have inflicted emotional wounds around the world.

 Stemming the next public health crisis — this time, in mental health

While the pandemic has brought mental health into sharper focus for many, 1 in 5 adults were receiving mental health treatment before the arrival of COVID-19.

 Taking Action Against the Rising Mental Health Crisis: Efforts From Health Plans, Congress, and More

The mental health crisis in the United States has shown staggering increases in rates of mood disorders and suicide-related outcomes among adults and adolescents. Along with COVID-19, issues such as social media use and the intensifying danger of climate change have been associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, suicidality, and other psychiatric conditions, particularly among youth.

 Technology’s Role In Addressing The Mental Health Crisis

America is in the midst of a mental health crisis. The numbers are stark: More than 2.5 million youth in the U.S. have severe depression, with the problem persisting into adulthood with nearly half of those with mental illness not receiving treatment. Substance abuse rates are rising, with 7% of U.S. adults and 4% of youth reporting struggles with substance use disorder.

 The Pandemic Has Taken A Toll On Our Mental Health: Has It Also Reduced The Stigma Surrounding It?

Although mental health and mental illness are two distinct things, the decreased stigma around mental illness is a positive development. Less stigma and less shame free us all to be open about the mental health struggles most everyone deals with.

 There is no mental illness epidemic

Thanks to celebrities, more people are demanding help — while those most in need are overlooked.

 There’s a Mental-Health Crisis Among American Children. Why?

The pandemic is not the only reason.

America's shadow epidemic

We may be exiting the worst part of the coronavirus pandemic, but we're just beginning to grapple with the subsequent mental health epidemic.

Amid the nation’s mental health crisis, we need more psychiatrists now

Every day, people call my office looking for help: A loved one has not left their bed in a week. A father is experiencing panic symptoms while preparing his children for school. A young woman is using substances in a way that feels dangerous to her.

Coronavirus is causing a mental health crisis. Here’s how to fight it.

Covid-19 patients and those caring for them could be especially at risk for anxiety, depression, and other conditions.

COVID-19: Mental Illness, a “Parallel Pandemic”

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a “parallel epidemic” of deteriorating mental health, especially among young people. The World Health Organization (WHO) is establishing a new mental health coalition to help states address this problem.

Covid-19’s hidden mental health crisis

All over the world, people are trying to cope with similar distress—and existing mental health care systems are not always equipped to help them.

Hospitals Brace for Mental-Health Crisis Among Doctors and Nurses

In areas where the coronavirus has rampaged, medical staff has been worn thin; ‘like a movie, but a horror film’.

How the media may be making the COVID-19 mental health epidemic worse

Staying informed is critical, of course. But monitor how much media you’re consuming, and assess how it affects you. If you are constantly worrying, feeling overwhelmed, or having difficulty sleeping, you may be taking in too much COVID media. If this is happening to you, take a break from the news and do other things to help calm your mind.

Is the Country Experiencing a Mental Health Pandemic?

There are epidemiological and clinical reasons why we should drop that term.

It’s Not Just You: Everyone’s Mental Health Is Suffering

If you’re thinking, “Oh, I just need to suck it up,” stop. What you’re feeling is real. Here’s how to cope.

Mental Health Care Should Be Available for All, Not a Luxury

The stress of COVID fractured a system that was already cracked.

Op-Ed: We’re in the middle of a mental-health crisis. Many were struggling before the pandemic

There are opportunities all around us, even during a crisis. Focusing on the opportunities can help you emerge from a crisis stronger and wiser than ever before.

The Coming Mental-Health Crisis

The challenge is daunting—and not just for those who already face mental-health and substance-abuse issues and those at risk because of the changes in their life caused by the pandemic. The people crucial to fighting the coronavirus are vulnerable as well. Most telling in this latest round of survey data is the impact that COVID-19 is having on essential workers, including health-care personnel.

The Covid-19 crisis too few are talking about: health care workers’ mental health

In the midst of this global pandemic, people are talking about the urgent and critical need for personal protective equipment. They are sharing concerns about the impending lack of respirators and the need for testing. And they are encouraging people to #flattenthecurve through social distancing. But no one is talking about a potential mental health crisis facing health care workers on the frontlines of this pandemic.

The Student Mental Health Crisis

A 2018 Pew Research Center Survey found that 95% of teens in the U.S. have access to a smartphone, and 45% of this group are online nearly all the time. This is particularly concerning, given the Mayo Clinic’s analysis of several studies that suggest prolonged and sustained usage of social media puts teens at greater risk of developing mental-health problems.

The “Epidemic” of Mental Disorders - Rhetoric and Reality

Mental health has become a big topic of discussion in the media. Headlines describing mental health problems at epidemic levels are common - and many come from “research” cited by insurers.

This Is Not a Normal Mental-Health Disaster

If SARS is any lesson, the psychological effects of the novel coronavirus will long outlast the pandemic itself.

We are the hollow men: The worldwide epidemic of mental illness, psychiatric and behavioral emergencies, and its impact on patients and providers

However, the economic burden of mental illness does not paint a complete picture of the toll of mental illness on the patients or the care providers challenges associated with psychiatric patients. Emergency physicians and intensivists had the highest rates of burnout as demonstrated by a loss of enthusiasm for work, cynicism and a low sense of accomplishment.

We Need to Take Action to Address the Mental Health Crisis in This Pandemic

As we recover from the pandemic, we must take the opportunity to build mental health services for the future, by shifting services to the community, making them accessible online, and making sure mental health is included in universal health coverage. It will be essential to involve people with lived experience of mental health conditions in designing and delivering services.

Young people’s mental health is a ‘worsening crisis’. Action is needed

In both the UK and US, services for young people are being cut, leaving those from marginalised groups at greatest risk of suicide.

‘It’s Life or Death’: The Mental Health Crisis Among U.S. Teens

Depression, self-harm and suicide are rising among American adolescents. For one 13-year-old, the despair was almost too much to take.