The New York Times (10/29, Caron) reported, “A number of mental health” clinicians “say that they are seeing an uptick in teenagers and young adults who are diagnosing themselves with mental illnesses…after learning more about the conditions online.” Should teens come “to their parents to discuss something they’ve seen on TikTok or another social media platform, it’s best to remain open and curious, experts say.” Anish Dube, MD, Chairman of the Council on Children, Adolescents and Their Families at the American Psychiatric Association, stated, “Take that as an opportunity to engage them and find out more about your teenager and some of the challenges and struggles that your teenager is going through.” Because “the information presented on social media can be inaccurate or overly simplistic…Dr. Dube also recommended pointing kids toward reliable sources like the A.P.A.’s directory of mental health topics.”
Related Links:
— “Teens Turn to TikTok in Search of a Mental Health Diagnosis “Christina Caron, The New York Times, October 29, 2022