Be it getting a new hairstyle and then deeming it a “mental breakdown”, or just saying “I’m so depressed”, that is now something uncommon to hear, overlooking the sheer magnitude of the problem, students of today’s world sometimes think it is alright to post pictures of themselves on social media with captions stating they are depressed, or down with a mental illness, all in lieu of following, what has now transformed, from a serious issue of concern, to a social media trend.
Diseases like PSTD and ASPD, are glamorized beyond margin socially, in literature and in sitcoms and movies, creating a normalization of mental illnesses. Teenagers think it is “cool” to have a mental illness, and on certain occasions, also end up portraying it on their social media pages, to show the world that they have endured a hard life.
The #depressed has over 12 million Instagram posts connected with it. Amongst pictures of people with actual illnesses, and organizations working to spread awareness though, you will find pictures of girls with tattoos, smoking and cartoonized images saying “I want to go away…. forever.” These posts on “beautiful suffering, not only end up trivializing the issue, but end up making it seem quite mundane, resulting the people who actually need help, not receiving it.
On many occasions, we see Youtubers and Influencers posting pictures on social media, sometimes even advertising, but subtly, maybe even unknowingly, glamorising mental illness to impressionable audience, portraying it similar to a fashion trend, making people “want” to obtain it.
People end up labelling their short-term sadness, as depression and their nervousness as anxiety, when the problems faced by those individuals, aren’t connected to mental health issues, and psychological problems whatsoever.
Due to the stigma associated with mental illness, a lack of awareness, the trend we have made it, and limited access to professional help, only 10-12% of the 200 million sufferers seek help. Half of all mental health disorders show first signs before a person turns 14 years old, and three quarters of mental health disorders begin before age 24.
When you have 72% of 13-17-year olds and 75% of 18-24-year olds using Instagram, with 35% rating it as their favourite app, glamorizing mental health can go so far as to trivializing and normalizing the issue. Unfortunately, less than 20% of children and adolescents with diagnosable mental health problems receive the treatment they need. So next time, before you go ahead and glamorize it, think about those who don’t get the help they require.
Social media has increasingly blurred the line between what is authentic and what is performance. It has made people trivialize and glamorize something that can actually prove to be fatal. Next time you feel like posting a picture of yourself when you are sad or upset, or just for fun even, think. Sadness is one thing. Depression is another.
