Mental health and social media: Are they intertwined?

Himangshu Buragohain

(himangshu433@gmail.com)

We all celebrated the New Year very recently. People are ready with their resolutions, which will include being physically fit, earning more money, and achieving academic excellence. However, in this fast-paced world, we, as human beings, have seemed to lose the art of making real connections. It is a rather surprising fact that a stranger on the internet has become more accessible and valuable to us. Gone are the days when children were seen on their bicycles; now they are constantly stuck to their screens.

Mental health refers to an individual’s psychological, emotional, and social well-being. It is about how a person feels, behaves, and deals with situations. Even in 2023, mental health will still be stigmatised in India. As of 2023, India’s population is officially 1.412 billion. 50% of the second-largest populated country is under the age of 25, and over 65 percent are below 35. The majority of India’s population is working class. However, awareness of and resources for “mental health” in India are scarce. According to the insights provided by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 164,033 suicides were reported in the country in 2021, an increase of 7.2 percent compared to 2020. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Karnataka contributed 54.4% of the total suicides reported in the country. More male suicides were reported in comparison to female suicides. Male suicides accounted for 72.5% in 2021, and females accounted for 27.4% in the same year. An estimated number of 13,039 among the overall suicide numbers were students.

Mental health professionals are trying to spread awareness about mental health among people residing in different corners of this country. However, the number of people seeking professional help is still low. People tend to use the words “ “severe “bipolar and “personality disorders” very casually. They also tend to self-diagnose, which is a dangerous thing to do. Only mental health professionals have the skills and resources to diagnose a patient.

Social media has proven to be one of the leading causes of mental health issues among young and old alike. A 2018 British study linked social media usage to anxiety and depression, loneliness, memory loss, aggression, low self-esteem, body image issues, poor sleep quality, and anti-social behaviour. Social media tends to trigger the feelings of “fear of missing out,” popularly termed “FOMO.” The whole world is online, and the majority of the population tends to post about everything that is currently going on in their lives, be it marriage, pregnancy, new job opportunities, traveling, etc. With this unlimited content, it is inevitable to feel like one is not doing enough. Continuous use of social media platforms also unconsciously provokes the urge to compare oneself with friends, relatives, colleagues, and even celebrities and influencers.

Social media has sparked more cases of cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is the act of defaming someone’s image by using electronic devices like mobile phones and social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. The act of cyber bulling is carried out with a strong intention to inflict chaos in someone’s life. Victims of cyberbullying are traumatised and often require professional help to overcome their trauma. They tend to experience depressive episodes, traumatic flashbacks, insomnia, and eating disorders. These individuals tend to disassociate themselves from reality and develop aggressive behaviour.

The concept of “mental health” has become quite popular in recent years. It is a serious and sensitive issue that must be dealt with by professionals only. Awareness programmes and workshops should be carried out among youngsters and the older generation to build a progressive society. It should be mandatory for all educational institutions and workplaces to appoint a therapist, psychologist, or counsellor for their students and workers.

Virtual connections can never replace real-life relationships. Hence, spending time with one’s family members, relatives, friends, and colleagues and spending time away from one’s device helps a person to maintain a healthy and positive outlook towards life.