"While reading, I realized it's my story" ... The reason why more young people are expressing mental health issues

Diagnosing myself without the expertise of a professional

I guess I shouldn't assume that I am also experiencing a mental illness...

Empathize with similar situations through SNS

Many people think it's their own work and self-diagnose themselves as experiencing mental health issues.

This is why expert diagnosis is always reliable.

I shouldn't get too absorbed in such a depressing story ;;;;

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Interest and information about mental illnesses are increasing through social media and other channels.

Young people are more likely to have a broad understanding of mental health issues due to social media consumption. [Photo = Getty Images Bank]

Mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety disorders are spreading among young adults, leading to a rapid increase in demand for treatment and a rise in prescriptions for certain psychiatric medications. This trend coincides with a growing public interest in mental health issues.

British psychologist Lucy Falks argues that the increase in interest and the rising trend in prevalence are connected. He said, "As awareness of mental illness increases, some people may inaccurately diagnose themselves when experiencing relatively mild or temporary issues."

According to Australia's non-profit media outlet 'The Conversation,' researchers at the University of Melbourne in Australia examined whether people with a broad understanding of actual mental illnesses are more likely to make self-diagnoses.

The researchers defined self-diagnosis as believing oneself to have a disease regardless of whether it was diagnosed by a professional. They also assessed the presence of a 'broad concept of mental disorders' when various experiences and behaviors, including relatively mild conditions, were considered indicative of a disorder.

The researchers asked 474 American adults whether they believe they have a mental disorder or have been diagnosed by a healthcare professional. They also inquired about other possible contributing factors and demographic information.

42% of respondents reported having a self-diagnosed condition, and most received additional diagnosis from healthcare professionals. The strongest predictor before diagnosis was experiencing relatively severe pain. The second most important factor after pain was having a broad concept of mental illness. When pain levels were the same, individuals with a broad concept were significantly more likely to self-diagnose mental disorders.

Interestingly, people who conducted self-diagnosis but did not receive professional diagnosis tended to have a broader concept of disease than those who were diagnosed. Additionally, younger and more politically progressive individuals were more likely to report a diagnosis.

The researchers stated, "The research findings suggest that the broad concept of mental illness can promote self-diagnosis, which may lead to an increase in the prevalence of mental health issues," and added, "Unsubstantiated self-diagnosis can lead individuals experiencing relatively mild levels of distress to seek unnecessary, inappropriate, and ineffective help."

According to a recent study published in Australia, people who experienced relatively mild pain and received psychotherapy were more likely to worsen than to improve.

The researchers warned, "These effects can be particularly problematic for young people," stating that "young people are most likely to have a broad understanding of mental illness due to social media consumption and experience mental health issues at relatively high and increasing rates."