Future Retirement Success
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks

Future Retirement Success

Business

Young Britons turn to social media for self-diagnosis amid mounting mental health concerns

by December 10, 2024
December 10, 2024
Young Britons turn to social media for self-diagnosis amid mounting mental health concerns

An estimated two million young people in the UK are self-diagnosing mental health issues without consulting a medical professional, according to new research from insurer AXA Health.

The report’s findings highlight a growing reliance on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram for what young Britons perceive as expert guidance on conditions ranging from anxiety and depression to neurodiverse challenges like ADHD and autism.

The study revealed that nearly 30 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds have declared themselves to be suffering from mental health conditions before ever speaking to a clinician. Among that cohort, roughly 11 per cent attribute their symptoms to neurodiverse conditions. The trend underlines a broader concern as a mounting mental health crisis affects educational engagement, workforce participation, and ultimately economic productivity.

Industry observers say the surge in self-diagnosis is partly driven by inadequate access to professional mental health services. With both public and private healthcare channels beset by long waiting lists, many young people feel cut off from timely, tailored support. Instead, they turn to social media, where content creators—often with no medical qualifications—share personal experiences or oversimplified symptom lists that can be misleading.

Dr Will Shield, a psychologist at the University of Exeter, warns that this environment risks normal emotions being classified as pathology. “Social media can be incredibly powerful, but it’s rife with misinformation. Without professional insight, young people may misinterpret ordinary feelings as signs of serious conditions,” he said.

While influencers can raise awareness, their highly individualised stories seldom account for variations in how conditions present. ADHD, for instance, manifests differently in each person. Interpreting such anecdotal experiences without clinical context can lead to unnecessary anxiety, inappropriate self-labelling, and misguided attempts at self-care.

The AXA Health report also shows twice as many people use social media to identify potential mental health issues compared with physical ailments—a troubling indicator that digital platforms exert an outsized influence on psychological well-being. With economic and social ramifications on the line, these findings prompt urgent calls for improved mental health education, better access to professional services, and more stringent regulation of online health content.

Unless addressed, the reliance on self-diagnosis and informal guidance risks exacerbating a mental health landscape already under strain. The challenge lies in empowering young people to differentiate between credible resources and social media myths, while policymakers, healthcare providers, and employers collaborate to deliver reliable, accessible mental health support.

Read more:
Young Britons turn to social media for self-diagnosis amid mounting mental health concerns

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Trump FBI director pick Kash Patel ‘instrumental in unraveling’ Russia collusion hoax, former chair says
next post
Nobel laureates criticize RFK Jr. HHS nomination over ‘lack of credentials,’ vaccine stance

You may also like

Yubo’s Innovative Age-Verification System Will Enhance Users’ Social...

August 15, 2022

How to Enhance Your Warehouse Operations with Cutting-Edge...

March 3, 2025

UK start-ups create fewer jobs as business closures...

May 26, 2025

Interview with Zenity CEO & Co-Founder, Ben Kliger

September 30, 2022

Blow to UK salmon industry as post-Brexit export...

August 10, 2023

Young British Workers Exploit Sick Leave, Outnumbering Migrant...

May 27, 2024

London’s wages fall 5.6% since 2008, second worst...

March 10, 2025

‘Free money’: £4bn lost to fraud and error...

August 5, 2024

UK apprenticeship levy is a £3.5bn mistake, say...

February 6, 2023

MPs warn UK must not weaken listing rules...

July 11, 2025

    Get free access to all of the retirement secrets and income strategies from our experts! or Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get the Premium Articles Acess for Free

    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • Case v. Montana Brief: Limit Loopholes to the Fourth Amendment

      August 7, 2025
    • Trump opens $9tn US retirement market to crypto in landmark executive order

      August 7, 2025
    • What Should We Learn from China’s Nuclear Construction Costs?

      August 7, 2025
    • Closing the Primary Care Gap

      August 7, 2025
    • Veteran Biden insider Anita Dunn appears in House Oversight autopen probe

      August 7, 2025
    • NDAs banning harassment and discrimination disclosures to be void under new UK workplace reforms

      August 7, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (8,704)
    • Investing (2,182)
    • Politics (16,331)
    • Stocks (3,228)
    • About us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: futureretirementsuccess.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 futureretirementsuccess.com | All Rights Reserved