According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 3.8% of the global population suffer from depression. However, in most cases, your mental health can be affected by other factors such as social media, the people around you, or your work-life balance.
Fortunately, thanks to our digital world, more people are learning about mental illnesses and how they can help others with their mental health. In this post, we explain how online communities can help you and others in the fight against mental illness.
Online Therapy Sessions
The internet has made it possible for people to take therapy sessions no matter where they are in the world. You don’t have to travel to a practitioner’s office because your therapy session can be done online. You’re able to sit in the comfort of your own home while talking to a professional.
There is a rise in the popularity of LGBT online therapy, especially for people who’ve developed agoraphobia. People who also want access to professionals outside of their local areas can also benefit from online therapy.
Online therapy provides a safe space for people to seek help and even learn about various mental illnesses.
Safeguarding People with Policies
Those who suffer from mental illnesses can have amplified negative reactions to derogatory terms from others on the internet. There have been many cases where people commit suicide by reading hateful comments on their posts.
Therefore, the online community is fighting to assist people with mental illnesses through strict policies. Most social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook, will ban users for soliciting hate speech against others.
Users can also flag comments if they find them inappropriate or report accounts they believe are spreading hate speech. These policies also make people more aware of the words they use when speaking to others over the internet.
Greater Source of Resources
People have a plethora of resources about mental illnesses on the internet. You can learn about the following:
- Phobias
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Anger
- Body dysmorphic disorder
- Eating problems
- Borderline personality disorder
There are professionals that have YouTube channels discussing what the symptoms are for various mental illnesses. Additionally, there are medical journals online that you can research to find out more about what can help if you’re suffering from a mental illness.
You can even attend online seminars or chats with like-minded individuals. There are also online chats where you can speak to someone anonymously about your problems.
When you search the internet for a mental illness topic, you’ll have a list of articles, videos, and infographics to go through.
Mental Health Apps
If you have a smartphone, then you’ll have access to mental health apps that can help you. There are apps that provide:
- Guided meditation
- Suicide awareness and prevention
- Therapy sessions
- Anxiety relief
- Actions to minimize stress
- Ways to quit substance abuse
- Guides for people with OCD
- Information for LGBTQ mental health
Most mental health apps are free and provide telephone numbers, emails, and resources if you need to do more research on various mental illnesses. Before choosing a specific app on your iOS or Android device, read reviews from other users first to ensure the app is safe.
With mental health apps, you can monitor and manage various mental health conditions. What’s more, you can share information from the app with friends and family to spread awareness about mental illnesses.
Mental Health Education
Social media, Google and even YouTube, have plenty of educational material for mental health awareness. The advantage of online mental health education is that you can share what you’ve learned with others through chatrooms and social media.
However, it’s important to learn about mental illnesses through credible sources. While there is plenty of information about mental illnesses, there’s also a lot of misinformation online. If you’re unsure about a statement, you can always use a fact-checker tool to assist you.
When you fact-check your statements or resources, you prevent the spread of misinformation on the internet. It’s important for communities to get the correct information about mental illnesses, so always ensure you’re sending the correct details.
The Use of Forums
Forums such as Reddit and Quora are excellent places to find people who have lived experiences with mental illnesses. You can ask them questions about their experiences and how they manage and monitor their mental health.
Furthermore, you can find people who’ve had similar experiences to you so you can ask for advice. Through forums, you can learn from people who experience multiple mental illnesses and then help make other people aware by sharing the information you’ve learned.
People may also provide you with extra resources and learning material that you didn’t know about. Lastly, people can come together on forums to run mental illness awareness campaigns through social media or advertising agencies.
Final Thoughts
Do you or someone you know suffer from a mental illness? If you’re not sure where to turn for help, then use the information in this article to guide you. Opt for online therapy if you want to be discreet with the kind of help you need or learn more about mental illness through the various sources we’ve mentioned.
