Mental Health Awareness Month has brought increased public focus on mental health, leading to more diagnoses of conditions like anxiety and depression. However, this awareness also raises concerns about self-diagnosis and over-identification with symptoms. While awareness is crucial, it’s important to engage with mental health care in a way that goes beyond labels, focusing on resilience, growth, and understanding the complexities of human experience.
The Rise of Mental Health Discussions
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a designation that has been in place since 1949. If this surprises you, you’re not alone. Although the month has a long history, the conversation around mental health has evolved significantly and, in recent years, expanded considerably. What was once a taboo subject is now a regular part of public discourse. A clear example of this shift is the widespread popularity of the book The Body Keeps the Score, considered by some to be the definitive work on trauma. It has sold over 3 million copies and has been translated into more than 30 languages, highlighting the growing emphasis on mental health awareness in culture.
The surge in public focus on mental health has been staggering. As we look back over the past 15 years, it’s clear that mental health is no longer hidden in the shadows. From the rise of campaigns and social media movements to the integration of mental health topics into the workplace and schools, mental health discussions are seemingly happening everywhere.
In fact, research shows that Google searches for the term “mental health” have increased by 22% between 2020 and 2023, a clear indicator of growing public awareness. Specific mental health topics have seen even more dramatic spikes: searches for “what is the best mood stabilizer for anxiety” increased by 7,100%, and queries about social anxiety disorder therapies grew by over 2,000%. The global pandemic only intensified these trends, with a 25% rise in anxiety and depression worldwide, reflected in a sharp increase in mental health-related search queries during and after the crisis.
This increased visibility has led to an unprecedented rise in mental health diagnoses, with conditions like anxiety, depression, and ADHD becoming common terms in everyday conversations. This shift would seem to suggest a positive movement towards being more comfortable discussing mental health struggles and issues.
However, nothing ever happens in a vacuum and there are always tradeoffs. One of the most pressing concerns is the potential for over-identifying with mental health symptoms, particularly during a month dedicated to raising awareness. With the growing reliance on online symptom checkers and social media discussions, many people may find themselves diagnosing their experiences based on checklists, rather than seeking professional guidance. While raising awareness is crucial, the question remains: Are we truly in the midst of a mental health crisis, or are we simply more fixated on our mental health than ever before?
This question deserves reflection as we navigate this new landscape of heightened awareness and diagnosis.
Mental Health Awareness: A Double-Edged Sword
Now, conversations about mental health have become embedded in mainstream culture. The rise in awareness has prompted more individuals to acknowledge their struggles and, importantly, seek help. Undoubtedly, there are well-intentioned people that are using their social media platforms and organizations to spread information, foster compassion, and encourage open discussions about mental health. But this shift has also brought unintended consequences.
One of the most concerning developments is the rise of self-diagnosis. In a world of online symptom checkers and viral mental health content, many people are now identifying with conditions like anxiety, depression, or even more complex disorders without professional consultation.
We are social creatures that desire connection with others. This can sometimes present us with social incentives to self-diagnose. It feels good to be a part of something. This can lead to things like; symptom shopping, seeking social currency, or social contagions:
- Self-Diagnosis and Symptom Shopping:
In today’s digital age, the abundance of online symptom checkers and mental health quizzes encourages individuals to diagnose themselves based on symptom lists. This phenomenon, often referred to as “symptom shopping,” occurs when people browse through a list of symptoms and select the diagnosis that seems to match their experiences. Without professional consultation, this approach can be misleading, as it fails to take into account the nuances and complexities of individual mental health conditions.
- Social Currency in Mental Health:
Sharing personal mental health struggles on social media has become a form of social currency. When individuals post about their symptoms or diagnoses, they often receive validation, support, and a sense of belonging from online communities. This can be empowering but also contributes to the pressure to self-identify with certain conditions to feel connected. The act of labeling oneself with a popular or widely-discussed diagnosis can inadvertently increase one’s social value within these groups, even if the diagnosis isn’t clinically accurate.
- Social Contagion and Over-Identification:
Mental health conditions can sometimes spread through social contagion, especially when certain diagnoses become trendy or widely discussed in media and online communities. As individuals see others self-identify with conditions like anxiety or depression, they may begin to over-identify with these symptoms as well. This can lead to a phenomenon where people embrace diagnoses that align with their emotions or behaviors, even when those labels don’t reflect their true clinical experience.
While it may be empowering for individuals to take ownership of their mental health, the approach becomes problematic when diagnoses are made based solely on symptom lists or anecdotal experiences. For example, it’s common for someone on social media to mention feeling “really anxious” and immediately link that experience to a diagnosis like Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). These self-diagnoses are often made without the necessary clinical context or expertise, leading people to over-identify with symptoms they’ve read about. This approach fails to recognize that mental health is far more complex and nuanced than a simple checklist.
Moreover, it’s important to consider the broader implications of heightened awareness and discussion around mental health. Research has shown that increased public awareness, while beneficial in many ways, can also have unintended consequences. Studies have found that suicide rates can increase following heightened awareness around the topic of suicide. This phenomenon, known as “suicide contagion,” suggests that increased visibility and discussion can lead to a rise in suicide rates, particularly among vulnerable individuals. Therefore, while raising awareness is crucial, it must be done thoughtfully and responsibly to avoid potential negative outcomes.
Are We Seeing a True Crisis or Just More Diagnoses?
According to data, mental health diagnoses have risen significantly in recent years. In fact, studies show that anxiety, depression, and ADHD diagnoses have increased dramatically since the early 2000s, with more individuals seeking therapy and medical interventions. This increase in medication interventions is best captured by the recent shortages in Adderall.
However, we must consider the possibility that this rise is not solely indicative of a crisis. Rather, it may reflect an evolving understanding of what constitutes mental health and the factors that contribute to it. In the past, many conditions went undiagnosed or untreated, simply because mental health wasn’t as openly discussed or understood. Now, with more open dialogue and improved access to healthcare, conditions that were once considered taboo or misunderstood are being recognized and treated.
But we must also be cautious about labeling every struggle as something that requires a diagnosis. Not all suffering is diagnostic. Sometimes, struggling is simply a human experience that is a part of life that doesn’t necessarily indicate an underlying mental health disorder. The human condition involves periods of sadness, anxiety, and stress, and these feelings are a normal response to life’s challenges. It’s important that we resist the urge to diagnose every normal struggle, as doing so may inadvertently pathologize what is simply part of being human.
Ultimately, it’s crucial to strike a balance between raising awareness and recognizing that not every difficulty requires a formal diagnosis. Sometimes, simply acknowledging the full spectrum of human experience, without immediately resorting to labels, can be the most effective way to support individuals through their struggles.
The Dangers of Over-Identification: Is This Good for Us?
While awareness of mental health struggles is important, over-identifying with symptoms can be harmful. Self-diagnosing based on online checklists or social media can lead individuals to view themselves solely through a diagnostic lens, neglecting their full complexity as a person. This can reinforce stigma and make it harder to see oneself as more than just a condition.
Clinging to an identity like “I have a mental illness” can also be a source of suffering. In Eastern philosophy, particularly in Buddhism, attachment to a fixed sense of self is seen as a root cause of suffering. When we define ourselves too rigidly by a diagnosis, we limit our potential for growth and healing. This attachment traps us in a narrow narrative, preventing us from embracing the full scope of our ever-changing experiences.
Over-identifying with a diagnosis can escalate distress. When someone interprets every emotion through the lens of their “diagnosis,” it can amplify feelings of anxiety and inadequacy, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. The risk is that, by becoming consumed by the diagnosis, individuals may inadvertently increase their distress by fixating on it too much.
Mental Health Awareness Beyond the Diagnosis
Mental Health Awareness Month can remind us how far we’ve come in destigmatizing mental health and opening up discussions. However, as we continue to raise awareness, we must also approach our mental health with a mindset that goes beyond simply identifying symptoms or jumping to a diagnosis. A shift in thinking is needed to avoid seeing mental health solely through the lens of “what’s wrong” and instead embrace a more nuanced understanding and well-rounded approach.
True mental health care involves both self-awareness and professional support, but it shouldn’t be viewed solely through the lens of pathology. It’s not just about identifying what’s wrong; it’s about building resilience, learning to manage life’s stresses, and fostering a healthier relationship with yourself and the environment in which “you” live.
As one engages in mental health care, it’s essential to approach it with a mindset that goes beyond just symptom management. True mental health care is about more than diagnosing what’s wrong; it’s about fostering resilience, learning to navigate life’s challenges, and cultivating a healthier relationship with both yourself and the world around you. Rather than viewing mental health as a fixed identity tied to a diagnosis, we should embrace it as a dynamic, evolving part of our lives.
Written By: Marcus Shumate, LCMHC, LCAS
