Too Much Mental Health Talk?
The conversation around mental health has become more open and prevalent than ever before. This shift has been positive in many ways, breaking down stigmas that once silenced talk about anxiety, depression, and other mental health struggles. Yes, it’s all good. But could we possibly be talking about (and obsessing over) mental health too much? And could this overemphasis have unintended consequences, particularly for young people?
The Rise of Mental Health Awareness
There’s no denying that increased mental health awareness has brought benefits to us all. More people are seeking help, resources are more accessible and there’s an understanding that mental health is as important as physical health. Social media, schools and businesses are now places where mental health is freely talked about and prioritized.
A recent article in The New York Times highlights concerns about the constant barrage of mental health content that may be leading to over-diagnosis and pathologizing of normal human emotions. The article suggests that while awareness is crucial, there’s a fine line between helpful discussion and creating a culture of fragility where every emotion is treated as a potential disorder.
I’ve seen this play out in therapy, where I regularly see teens who have self-diagnosed after spending hours online reading mental health content on TikTok and Instagram. In some cases, my young clients are eager to have a diagnosis and happily tell me about questionable treatments they learned from influencers or mental health “gurus.”
Is There Such a Thing as Overdoing It?
A paper published last year by psychologists at Oxford University introduced the concept of "prevalence inflation,” which refers to the phenomenon where increased awareness and talk of mental health has contributed to a boost in the perceived prevalence of these issues. Their research found that young people have a tendency to identify with discussed symptoms and labels, even when their experiences might not meet the clinical criteria for a mental disorder.
This so-called inflation can create a skewed perception of how widespread mental health issues are, potentially leading to unnecessary anxiety and self-diagnosis. The paper also points out that while it’s important to recognize genuine mental health concerns, there’s also a need for caution to avoid turning normal emotional experiences into clinical issues.
The Risk of Over-Identification
As a therapist, I believe that when talk about mental illness dominates the narrative, there’s a risk that common and essential emotions in adolescence—like anxiety, sadness and confusion—are misinterpreted as mental health disorders. For instance, a teenager who feels anxious about final exams or decisions about college might self-diagnose as having an anxiety disorder, not realizing that this type of anxiety is a natural response to commonly stressful situations.
Pathologizing Normal Emotions
Another concern is that the normalization of mental health language may lead to the pathologizing of everyday emotions. For example. when the language of mental illness is used too casually, normal emotions may be perceived as symptoms of a disorder, leading to self-diagnosis and even self-imposed limitations. This can create a culture where young people see themselves as more fragile than they are, undermining their resilience and ability to cope with life’s ups and downs.
The Pressure to Be “Mentally Healthy”
The rise in mental health awareness has also brought with it an expectation that feeling great all the time is somehow an achievable state. This pressure, which oftentimes comes from the curated lives of social media influencers, has led some to believe that they’re “broken” and need to be fixed. Instead of understanding that mood fluctuations are a normal part of life, they may feel pressure to constantly monitor their mental health asking themselves questions like, “Am I ok?” “Am I happy?” “Am I mentally ill?”
Striking a Balance
It’s important to note that my opinion is a minority view among those who specialize in treating adolescents, who often believe the more urgent problem is lack of access to mental health care. Nonetheless, I believe there is value in striking a balance in how we discuss mental health. While we must continue to promote awareness and encourage help-seeking behaviors, we must also be mindful of the messages we’re sending.
Good mental health is vitally important, but it’s just one aspect of overall well-being. Physical health, social connections, purpose, and a sense of belonging all contribute to a person’s mental state. By encouraging young people to focus on the whole person, we can help them build a strong foundation for mental health that doesn’t rely solely on the absence of negative emotions.
In other words, while it’s essential to talk about mental health, it’s equally important not to overwhelm with the idea that every emotion must be scrutinized.