Australians are increasingly self-diagnosing mental health conditions through social media and artificial intelligence, a trend that experts warn could lead to misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, and worsening symptoms. Clinical psychologist Professor Jill Newby from UNSW Sydney has expressed concern over this phenomenon, particularly regarding conditions like ADHD and OCD. Many individuals find relatable content online that resonates with their experiences, and this can lead to self-diagnosis.
“When you’re looking at information online or watching videos, you might not even be searching for that information,” Professor Newby stated. This unintended exposure can lead individuals down a path of self-diagnosis based on symptoms they identify with in online content. While discussing mental health has become more normalized, Newby cautions that this trend can blur the lines between typical human experiences and clinical mental health disorders.
OCD serves as a case in point. Professor Newby noted that around 90 percent of people experience intrusive thoughts, which are often misconstrued as symptoms of OCD. “The difference between that and OCD is the severity and impact of those experiences,” she explained. As more Australians identify with these symptoms, there is a risk of pathologizing normal emotional responses.
The role of social media algorithms further complicates the issue. As users engage with content related to mental health, they are served more of the same, reinforcing their concerns. “If you believe you have OCD, you’ll be fed information that convinces you you’re right,” Newby remarked.
This issue has also caught the attention of the Australian Medical Association (AMA), which is addressing another digital challenge: the proliferation of fake medical professionals on social media. Dr. Danielle McMullen, AMA president, highlighted the dangers of fictitious health profiles that mislead the public. “These aren’t doctors behind these profiles – they’re bad actors out there to either instil fear in communities, make a profit or just pure scammers,” she stated.
Some fake profiles have even promoted unapproved medications, while others gather personal information under the guise of providing health advice. The rise of misinformation underscores how blurred the digital health landscape has become. “People are being fed content that looks authoritative, often dressed up to sound medical, but it’s not always factual or balanced,” Professor Newby remarked.
The influence of technology on mental health interpretation is significant. A recent survey by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy found that nearly one in 20 people are comfortable discussing mental health with an AI chatbot, while one in 10 seek advice from social media influencers. BACP therapist Kate Bufton emphasized the difference between general information on social media and the nuanced understanding gained from an interpersonal experience with a registered therapist.
While AI-generated transcripts are occasionally brought into counseling sessions by patients looking to challenge their therapists, a tragic case has raised further concerns. The family of Adam Raine, a 16-year-old American who took his own life after months of interactions with a chatbot, has initiated legal action against the developers of ChatGPT for their potential role in his distress.
Australia is not immune to similar trends. “We’re seeing people arrive to therapy having already diagnosed themselves – and sometimes they argue with their doctor, saying ‘Well, this is what the internet told me,’” Professor Newby noted. Such scenarios erode trust in mental health professionals and can delay necessary treatment.
While the internet provides a platform for individuals to seek help, it often leads to self-diagnosis without professional guidance. “I’d love to see it the other way around – people notice symptoms, then access health professional support,” Newby suggested. “But I suspect a lot are self-diagnosing and leaving it at that.”
To combat this trend, Professor Newby proposes using technology to provide verified information rather than reinforcing fears. “Wouldn’t it be amazing if someone searching for OCD got fed evidence-based information from ‘OCD Australia’, if such a place existed?” she asked. She advocates for social media platforms to allow users to reset their algorithms, breaking the cycle of repetitive content.
“Digital tools can still play a positive role if users are taught how to critically assess what they’re consuming,” Newby concluded. “There’s a role for everyone to be mental-health literate. To ask: is this accurate, is it factual, are there other perspectives I should read in addition to this?”
As Australians navigate their mental health in the digital age, fostering critical thinking and a balanced approach to information consumption will be essential for improving outcomes.
