Social Media and Perceptions of Mental Health and Their Implications for Students' Psychological Health

Abstract

Abstract

This study aims to examine how social media shapes students' perceptions of mental health and its implications for their psychological health. The study used a qualitative approach with data collection through in-depth interviews and participant observation to explore students' experiences, views, and interactions with social media content related to mental health. The results showed that social media plays a central role in building students' understanding of mental health issues. Educational content, personal stories, and online communities are the main sources of information that influence students' perceptions. However, the findings also revealed that uncontrolled exposure to mental health content on social media can encourage students to self-diagnose. This phenomenon often leads to misunderstandings, excessive anxiety, and inappropriate decision-making regarding their mental health conditions, without professional consultation. This study emphasizes the importance of managing the use of social media wisely to support students' mental health. Higher education institutions and online communities can utilize social media as a more positive platform to improve digital literacy and support mental health, improve digital literacy, and reduce the risk of misdiagnosis. Based on these findings, further research is recommended to explore effective digital literacy strategies and the implementation of social media-based mentoring to mitigate the risk of misdiagnosis.