From Scrolls To Solutions...

Did you know the average person spends over 150 minutes a day on social media?

Our social media profiles are a digital extension of ourselves; through them, we seek out and engage with content that reflects our real-world needs - particularly, our mental health journeys.?

Social media platforms offer unparalleled ability to forge shared communities, bringing together individuals from diverse, unique backgrounds around shared interests, experiences, or challenges. For individuals with mental health needs, these online communities become spaces of solidarity and support, places of learning and exploration, and places where individuals can share their own lived experiences. The collective shared experiences found within these online groups can diminish feelings of isolation and stigmatisation that both drive, and accompany, mental health issues.?

Arguably however, the user-driven-ness of these online communities is also what poses the greatest danger to community members. In sharing personal lived experiences, creators seek validation and support from others who relate to their experience. And in-turn, us, the viewers, seek to relate ourselves to the shared experiences of others so that we feel less alone. Yet we forget to remember that personal experiences are just that - personal. Mental health conditions are complex, heterogeneous, and incredibly personal to each individual. Trying to fit one's mental health symptoms to another's experiences is like trying to fit a square block through a round hole. This isn't to say that there aren't clear benefits of increasing awareness for mental health conditions, or sparking conversation or thought around symptoms, but coupled with an overabundance of (often mis-)information on social media, social media platforms are also dangerous breeding grounds for incorrect self-diagnosis, and in-turn, ineffective and sometimes dangerous informal treatment methods.

Whilst social media platforms are clearly and decidedly not the right place to seek medical information and guidance, there is also a clear gulf in the ‘’step-up'’ between social media platforms and clinical healthcare. In making the decision to move into the clinical setting, individuals must make a clear investment - in their time, the effort required, and even in accepting to themselves that they are transitioning into the ‘sick role’ (insert definition/link).?

Digital health services are the bridge between online communities and traditional physical healthcare. By offering clinical-standard services in an online medium, they offer individuals unparalleled access to clinical services conveniently, privately, and remotely. In doing so, clinical-level care becomes accessible and affordable to every individual, as and when needed. Digital health solutions are also easier to open-up to, as compared to sitting in a cold sterile environment trying to share your thoughts. By providing tools like Mindstep to workforces, corporate teams enhance their workplace programmes by enabling employees to address their mental health needs independently and conveniently, without worrying about judgement from colleagues or superiors.?

It is important to recognise however that digital health services aren't a replacement for traditional clinical services. Whilst they offer clinical-level support, they're also just not equipped to manage complex or severe mental health issues. What they can do however, is provide validated guidance to individuals to be able make clear, informed decisions about their own health - rather than trying to make decisions based off of a post from social media.?

For employers, our view is that providing mental health services isn't a ‘benefit’ of any workplace scheme - it's the bare minimum. Supporting and caring for the mental health of your employees is critical to maintaining an engaged, healthy workforce. By providing opportunities for employees to recognise and intervene early in deteriorating mental health, long-term health outcomes are better and complications are avoided. Proactive approaches to maintaining positive mental health are always better than reactive measures to improve poor mental health.?

In implementing digital solutions however, our final point is that not all digital health tools are made equal. Like any other tool used in a business, it's important to conduct clear due diligence in any tool you use - especially when dealing with sensitive health data. Consider: data and security measures, clinical-validation and testing, approach to personalisation and intervention, and the team behind the product.?

At Mindstep, we've built a clinically-validated tool that screens and manages the twelve most prevalent brain and mental health conditions. Leveraging best-in class screening tools, Mindstep empowers individuals to confidentially screen their brain and mental health, then follow clear, personalised, and? actionable recommendations improving their health - all through the convenience of a mobile phone. We're available any time to discuss integrating mental health services into your employee proposition.?

For more on social media impacts on mental health check out this help guide here: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/social-media-and-mental-health.htm