Red flags that the mental-health influencer you follow on social media is sketchy

Plus more health news | Email not displaying correctly? [View it in your browser.]( [Health Matters]( [How to assess mental-health content on social media]( By Angela Haupt Health Editor My TikTok algorithm knows me too well, which is why first thing this morning, it suggested I watch a video about “5 steps for instant anxiety relief.” That mirrors a larger trend: More psychologists are stepping into the role of mental-health influencer, posting regularly on attachment styles, unresolved trauma, and whatever else happens to be trending. There are certainly benefits, like heightened awareness and reduced stigma around mental health. But it can be difficult to suss out which so-called experts are credible and whether their information is trustworthy. With that in mind, I asked a handful of psychologists to share the red flags consumers should watch for when scrolling through mental-health content on TikTok or Instagram. Here are a few that especially resonated for me: - Posts are jargon-heavy. Therapy speak—about "boundaries," "inner-child work," or "attachment styles," for example—is tossed around frequently and casually. Trust-worthy practitioners “typically aren’t using therapy terms and therapy jargon, because they want to make therapy and mental health more approachable and digestible,” one expert told me. - The person running the account is trying to sell you something. If a practitioner’s content all leads back to their storefront, they’re probably more concerned with making you their customer than providing quality education. - Posts promote self-diagnosis or labels. At least once a day, I see a post with a grabby caption like “5 signs you’re depressed” or “how to tell if your partner is a narcissist.” Resist the urge to label yourself or anyone else, and instead talk to your doctor about it. Actual diagnoses are far more complex than reels allow. [READ THE REST]( Share This Story What Else to Read [Canadian Wildfire Smoke Led to Spike in Asthma ER Visits, Especially in New York]( By MIKE STOBBE / AP A series of studies found poor air quality from the June wildfires caused increased ER visits, particularly in the New York area. [Read More »]( [Japan Releasing Wastewater Into the Pacific: What to Know About Radioactivity and Seafood]( By Chad de Guzman Here’s what scientists have to say about the minimal risks to seafood consumers from Fukushima’s treated wastewater. [Read More »]( [California is Out of Its Epic Drought—For Now]( By Alejandro de la Garza Tropical Storm Hilary and a year of substantial rainfall has brought needed water to California. But the region's long-term problems remain. [Read More »]( [Column: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Is Dead Wrong About Vaccines]( By Edward Nirenberg and Gavin Yamey There is no point in debating RFK Jr. on vaccines. He's wrong and has been proven so many times before. [Read More »]( [Put Your Shoes Back On. Here’s the Problem With Going Barefoot]( By Angela Haupt Podiatrists say going barefoot can lead to many painful (and gross) health complications. [Read More »]( An expert quote “People think they’re multitasking when really they’re task-switching and it’s harming them. Every time you engage in task-switching, you lose time, you get more things incorrect, and the quality of work diminishes. It’s inefficiency across the board.” —Adam Brown, co-director of the Center for Attention, Learning, and Memory at St. Bonaventure University If you were forwarded this and want to sign up to receive it daily, [click here](. Today's newsletter was written by Angela Haupt and Jamie Ducharme, and edited by Elijah Wolfson. [Want more from TIME? Sign up for our other newsletters.]( [Subscribe to TIME]( TIME may receive compensation for some links to products and services in this email. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Connect with TIME via [Facebook]( | [Twitter]( | [Newsletters]( [UNSUBSCRIBE]( [PRIVACY POLICY]( [YOUR CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS]( TIME Customer Service, P.O. Box 37508, Boone, IA 50037-0508 Questions? Contact health@time.com Copyright © 2023 TIME USA, LLC. All rights reserved.