The bittersweet world of mental health online - BBC News
A new film executive-produced by Kim Kardashian examines social media and mental health, but being a mentally ill person who's active online can be a bittersweet experience, says Charlotte Walker who has bipolar disorder.
Until a few years ago I never dreamed that a supportive community existed on the net. I used social media in a light-hearted way, keeping in touch with friends on Facebook and I chatted about books and TV on Twitter. But in 2011 after having a devastating bipolar episode, I began blogging as a way to process my feelings. I created a new Twitter account to promote the blog but over time it became an important connection to the mental health community for me.
As Kardashian says, loneliness and isolation are major issues for people with mental health problems. Many people who I follow on social media are housebound by conditions like depression, obsessive compulsive disorder or anxiety. Others have partners and friends yet, despite this, don't get the level of support they sometimes need. Well-meaning loved-ones can inadvertently belittle people's difficulties, expect an instant recovery or simply not know how to respond. Social media can help to fill that gap.
this news report give two links to Black Dog Tribe's and Elefriends. , i have no idea if they will help anyone with a mental health problem. but have checked the links and are working.
your not alone , others also have mental health problems. so it up to you , if you feel like talking about it, with others, that understand the problems, ie the two links in the report. or on here, we can try to be more aware there is a problem in these areas. etc
A new film executive-produced by Kim Kardashian examines social media and mental health, but being a mentally ill person who's active online can be a bittersweet experience, says Charlotte Walker who has bipolar disorder.
Until a few years ago I never dreamed that a supportive community existed on the net. I used social media in a light-hearted way, keeping in touch with friends on Facebook and I chatted about books and TV on Twitter. But in 2011 after having a devastating bipolar episode, I began blogging as a way to process my feelings. I created a new Twitter account to promote the blog but over time it became an important connection to the mental health community for me.
As Kardashian says, loneliness and isolation are major issues for people with mental health problems. Many people who I follow on social media are housebound by conditions like depression, obsessive compulsive disorder or anxiety. Others have partners and friends yet, despite this, don't get the level of support they sometimes need. Well-meaning loved-ones can inadvertently belittle people's difficulties, expect an instant recovery or simply not know how to respond. Social media can help to fill that gap.
this news report give two links to Black Dog Tribe's and Elefriends. , i have no idea if they will help anyone with a mental health problem. but have checked the links and are working.
your not alone , others also have mental health problems. so it up to you , if you feel like talking about it, with others, that understand the problems, ie the two links in the report. or on here, we can try to be more aware there is a problem in these areas. etc