A brand new research report by youth mental health service ReachOut highlights how a social media ban could cut young people off from vital mental health support, including finding that 73 per cent of young people in Australia turn to social media when it comes to support for their mental health.
Based on research with over 2000 young people, the report found a range of benefits for young people seeking mental health support via social media (predominantly TikTok, YouTube and Instagram). 66 per cent of young people surveyed reported increased awareness about their mental health because of relevant content they accessed via social media, 47 per said they had looked for information about how to get professional mental health support on social media and 40 per cent said they sought professional support after viewing mental health information on social media.
Importantly, half of young people with a probable mental health condition said that they were searching for mental health information or support on social media because they don’t have access to professional support.
However, young people also highlighted a range of concerns about social media via the research. 38 per cent were deeply concerned about harmful mental health content they have come across on platforms and 43 per cent of the young people who sought support online were deeply concerned about the addictive nature of social media.
The report highlights young people’s calls for social media to be safer. They want: an end to addictive features like infinite scroll, more control over the content they see, better labelling of mental health information from credible sources, better education and more mental health information provided across platforms.
CEO of ReachOut, Gary Groves, said that the new report provides important new research in this space and brings young people’s voices into a debate that they have been largely absent from.
“ReachOut’s new research report illustrates how young people across Australia are using social media platforms to look for mental health information to reassure them, for condition-related information and for coping strategies. In many cases young people are feeling relief or going on to get further support.
“However young people have not sugar coated their experiences of social media - they highlight the many pitfalls and dangers. These experiences have informed the practical solutions they have suggested to make social media platforms safer.
“As we can see from this research, social media is increasingly the front door to the mental health system for young people. We need reforms that make it safer and easier for young people to access support in the moments they need it, not cut them off from mental health support.
“For reform to be effective we need to bring the voices and experiences of young people front and center, including, via rich research insights like those in this new report,” he said.
Access the full report Harnessing the feed: social media for mental health information and support here.
For information and support young people can visit ReachOut.com and parents and carers can visit ReachOut.com/Parents.
Media contacts
- Louise Nealon - louise@prwithpurpose.com.au / 0403 569 177
- Tessa Anderssen, ReachOut - tessa@reachout.com / 0411 708 587
See here for press releases, research reports and more information about ReachOut.
Note for Editors
On 8 Oct interviews are available with:
- CEO of ReachOut, Gary Groves (Canberra)
- Director of Service at ReachOut, Jackie Hallan (Sydney)
- Case studies and ReachOut Youth Advocates (Sydney & Canberra)
Relevant documents
- Social media submission by ReachOut, Beyond Blue and Black Dog Institute
- Social media submission by ReachOut’s Youth Advocates
- Access the full report Harnessing the feed: social media for mental health information and support here.
Key stats
Harnessing the feed: social media for mental health information and support includes findings from a multiphase, mixed-methods study, in which qualitative data from 22 young people informed the design of a national survey of 2056 young people aged 16–25. Conducted in November 2023.
- 73% of young people surveyed reported turning to social platforms (predominantly TikTok, YouTube and Instagram) as a mental health resource.
- 47% said they had looked for information about how to get professional mental health support on social media.
- 40% said they sought professional support after viewing mental health information on social media.
- 51% of young people with a probable mental health condition said that they were searching for mental health information or support on social media because they don’t have access to professional support.
- 38% were deeply concerned about harmful mental health content on social media.
- 43% of the young people who sought support online were extremely or very concerned about the addictive nature of social media.
- 72% of young people reported looking for practical coping strategies for dealing with life’s challenges.
- 71% of young people reported looking for reassurance when it came to mental health.
- 69% searched for mental health condition-related information.
- 65% used platforms to connect with others.
- Only 1 in 4 young people reported they had never looked for mental health information on social platforms.
- 66% of young people surveyed reported increased awareness about their mental health because of relevant content they accessed via social media.
Social media
ReachOut support links
Young people:
- 4 signs social media is sending you into a spin
- 5 ways to tame your social media use
- Tuo’s story of switching off and finding joy offline
- Dealing with bad world news
- The news and critical thinking
- How to cope if you see disturbing videos and other sensitive content
- Ask a therapist: how to cope with distressing events and bad world news
- Online Community
- PeerChat
Parents and carers:
Schools:
About ReachOut
ReachOut is the leading online mental health service in Australia supporting young people during tough times.
ReachOut helps young people feel better about today and the future, no matter what challenge they’re facing. They provide a safe place where young people can openly express themselves, explore what’s happening in their lives, connect with people who understand their situation, and find the resources to help them manage their challenges now and in the future.
Anonymous, free and 100% online, ReachOut has been designed specifically for – and with – young people. From one-to-one support from experienced peer workers, to online forums, as well as tips, stories and resources, ReachOut offers a wide range of support options that allow young people to engage in the ways they want to, when they want to, and has been doing so for more than 20 years.
And, ReachOut Parents and ReachOut Schools provide valuable information, resources and advice to help parents, carers and educators to better understand the young people in their lives and to play an active role in their wellbeing.
