Should I Be Getting My Therapy Through Facebook?
There is no denying that social media is a large part of our daily living. One of the facets on the rise has been Facebook Groups. Salvador Rodriguez, a reporter for CNBC, stated that Facebook began to shift its emphasis away from the News Feed and toward groups following the 2016 U.S. presidential election. At the time, the company was under fire for not doing more to prevent the spread of fake news and misinformation. As part of its response, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg published a 6,000-word note in February 2017 outlining how the social network would improve by focusing on supporting and creating safe communities. Zuckerberg noted that more than 100 million users were members of “very meaningful” Facebook groups, but he said that most people don’t seek out groups on their own. “There is a real opportunity to connect more of us with groups that will be meaningful social infrastructure in our lives,” Zuckerberg wrote at the time.
One of those closed groups that have already proven to be lifesaving is ‘Let’s Talk (Mental Health Awareness)’. Dan Wells, 23, set up the group in a bid to get more people talking and opening up about their struggles with mental health after a man who fell from Tamar Bridge sadly died. Since the group was made, two lives have been saved. Wells mentioned that he “couldn’t be happier that this group got them out of their darkest spot. Also, many have said they have now managed to leave the house since joining the group, which is huge achievement for someone with anxiety.”
That is a great thing for those looking to transition their therapy to online closed groups. Users can save a lot of money (therapy is NOT cheap) and still feel a part of a safe space to feel heard and discuss their fears and emotions. Sarah Zhang, of The Atlantic, provides insight into ways that closed groups are moderated. “Since Facebook has pivoted to groups, it has added several tools for group admins, including ways to filter membership requests and delete content from banned members. Most important, perhaps, it made the membership of closed groups private.” Until early 2018, nonmembers could see who had joined a group even if they could not see the posts inside. This has been crucial in making sure vulnerable closed communities on Facebook are not subject to advertising, hate speech, or fake accounts.
Open networks on the other hand make news and discussion posts public to everyone. This could be helpful when you are wanting to advocate for mental health and share information with your family and friends. Susanna Harris, a student from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, discovered this concept after receiving an email that told her she failed the most important exam of her graduate school career. Harris continued with her regular schedule: lab, work, home, repeat. Everything seemed fine until she realized she was having a hard time focusing due to lack of sleep. That’s when she decided to go to campus health to ask for a prescription for a sleeping aid. The doctor said they could give her a prescription, but it would be for antidepressants instead. Harris was surprised how common depression is among Ph.D. students, so she began sharing aspects of her own mental health journey on social media by creating a supportive Twitter account and using #PhDBalance. People share the stories they might otherwise keep private — stories of anxiety, depression, abuse, substance use, PTSD. Others comment on the posts and reach out to the author. “People have found friends and compatriots through our page based on what they are going through, and I think that is beautiful,” said Harris. The account now has close to 28,000 followers.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. lives with a mental illness. While honesty and vulnerability are a wonderful way to be open and help others shine a light on their demons, there are downfalls to having these discussions on closed and open networks. With closed groups needing permission to enter, people who do not have the energy or confidence to complete the entry questions simply will not become a part of the support they need. Thus, heightening their problems. Closed groups may also foster repetitive ways of thinking, not allowing for new discussion if others are afraid to speak out or change the subject. Participants may also start to play the “comparison game” and have opposite side effects of what support is supposed to accomplish.
Some drawbacks to open networks are that fake news can be spread. According to Mark Travers, contributor for Forbes, Facebook is by far the worst perpetrator when it comes to spreading fake news. When people are struggling with their mental health, the last thing that is beneficial is to read false statements that could further affect them. Another drawback is that all of your social network can see what you are discussing. So, that relative whose friend request you accepted just to keep the family peace, sees everything that you post! Users are often stuck having to defend themselves when someone in their open network dislikes what is said.
Lastly, Facebook and other social media sites, whether closed or open, are not HIPPA (short for The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliant. Meaning your mental health and medical history, personal information, and privacy are at risk.
Although there are a lot of online support groups and seeing a therapist is an extra expense that I have to pay every two weeks, I will keep using them as I believe they are the best resource. I feel safer discussing the things affecting my mental health with someone in person that I know. Trivial circumstances may be fine to discuss with others via the internet. I do actually love sharing my experience through eating disorder recovery with others online to educate, inform, and support. However, the triggers behind mental health are not safe being discussed in a society as unsteady and vulnerable as Facebook.
If you or someone you know is battling mental and/or substance use disorders, please contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s free, confidential, 24/7, 365-a-day hotline at 1–800–662-HELP (4357). You can also visit the online treatment locators.
Please take care of yourselves, you got this!
-Rachel
