How Social Media Can Save a Life

Numerous studies have noted the harmful effects of social media on your mental health – but, when used properly, platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat can also be a positive way to connect those in need to proper mental health care and support. 

Personal social media accounts “can provide an important window into a person’s state of mind,” according to research by the Department of Defense Suicide Prevention Office.

As part of its Mental Illness Awareness Week efforts, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) recently ran an article entitled “Can Social Media Save a Life?” that talked about how social media can be used to identify mental health warning signs among friends and family. 

“It’s up to us to look out for mental health warning signs while on social media so we are better prepared to assist a friend in need,” wrote NAMI. 

Here are some of the behaviors to watch out for: 

1. Cyberbullying

• Harassing messages or comments
• Fake accounts made to impersonate someone else
• Someone posting unwanted pictures or images of another person

2. Negative statements about themselves, even if it sounds like they are joking:

• “I’m a waste of space.”
• “No one cares about me.”
• “I seriously hate myself.”

3. Negative leading statements, with little to no context that prompt others to respond:

• “You wouldn’t believe what I’ve been through.”
• “Today was the worst day ever.”
• “It’s like everyone is against me.”

As you scroll through your social media feeds, the NAMI urges you to be mindful of what others are posting. This way, you can know when to reach out and offer support or even "save a life."

Dual-Diagnosis Treatment at Hope Academy
Existing mental health issues often surface during addiction recovery. That’s why we offer treatment protocols for co-occurring substance use disorders and mental illnesses. To learn more, call today: 866-930-4673.

Do Your Instagram Posts Signal Depression?

Can your Instagram posts hold clues to your mental health? Possibly, according to researchers who used computer algorithms to determine characteristics associated with depression. 

For the study, published in the journal EPJ Data Science, researchers recruited 166 people, 71 of whom had a history of depression. They used a computer program to analyze nearly 44,000 photos, including each photo’s hue, color saturation and brightness, as well as the number of faces it contained. 

“People in our sample who were depressed tended to post photos that, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, were bluer, darker and grayer on average than healthy people,” said Andrew Reece, a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard University and co-author of the study with Christopher Danforth, a professor at the University of Vermont.

Other findings among those with a history of depression included: 

• More human faces posted.
• Less of face shown, when including a photo with their face.
• Less use of Instagram filters to adjust photo's brightness and coloring.
• Greater use of the Inkwell filter (which would make the photo black and white) when they did use filters.
• More frequent Instagram posts.
• More comments on their Instagram posts.
• Fewer likes. 

The researchers also said that "our model showed considerable improvement over the ability of unassisted general practitioners to correctly diagnose depression," which is a bit of a leap, according to many experts.  

Spotting the Signs of Depression
Perhaps rather than paying too much attention to your Instagram account, you’ll want to pay attention to the warning signs of depression, including:

• Fatigue or lack of energy
• Insomnia
• Sleeping too much
• Changes in appetite or weight 
• Physical pain
• Memory problems
• Social withdrawal
• Unexplained sadness 
• Loss of interest in hobbies/activities

Getting Help for Depression and Addiction
As addiction worsens, so does the co-occurring condition — and vice versa. At Hope Academy, we specialize in treating both diseases simultaneously. To learn more, call us toll-free today: 866-930-4673.