social work and mental health essay

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Advocacy in Action

Through the stories we share, the Admissions Team at Baylor University hopes to inspire and educate future leaders in social work.

The Impact of Social Workers on Mental Health

Did you know that 57.8 million adults experience some form of mental illness in a given year?  U.S. adults experience some form of mental illness in a given year? This represents 1 in 5 adults.

For many years mental illness has been associated with shame or humiliation. The reality is that many still do not understand the depth of the disorder for those who suffer from mental illness. According to World Psychiatry, people dealing with mental illness are challenged with two different stigmas — the stigma of how society understands mental illness and how the individual themselves deals with living with a mental illness.

There’s A Growing Need for Qualified Mental Health Professionals

Education is the best way to create awareness about mental illness. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) understands that stigma can create humiliation and cause individuals to shut down or shut out any type of help or treatment for a mental illness. Their CureStigma Campaign recognizes that “the perception of mental illness won’t change unless we act to change it.”

Social workers are in a unique position to offer hope and healing to those suffering from mental illness, and the need for experienced and competent mental health social workers continues to increase.

Social workers make up the largest professional group of trained mental health providers in the United States today. Add: 85% of mental health professionals in the U.S. are licensed social workers. There are many roles within the social work and mental health profession, such as practice, policy, and research. Each of these roles offers the opportunity to help lead the change and dispel the stigma associated with mental illness across the country and the world.

Career Opportunities for Mental Health Social Workers

Mental illness is not isolated to only one population or group. The need for mental health professionals extends to almost every area of society. Mental health social workers can be found within schools, hospitals, mental health facilities, community health centers, and government agencies to name a few.

One organization in particular, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is the largest employer of master’s level social workers in the United States. Social workers have worked in the VA system since 1926 and provide assistance to service members, veterans, and their families. Here are a few job opportunities as social workers within mental health:

Inpatient Psych Social Worker

Healthcare for the Homeless Veteran Outreach Program Social Worker

Substance Abuse Worker

Community Support/Mental Health Intensive Care Management

The Value of an MSW and the Difference It Makes in Mental Health Practice

The skills and knowledge obtained through a Master of Social Work degree (MSW) provide an opportunity to adequately and effectively serve those in the world’s most vulnerable populations. An MSW equips individuals with advanced clinical techniques and provides them with the skills needed to make a difference in the arena of mental health.

As a current MSW student at the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work , I have chosen to specialize in physical and mental health. With my education, I plan to advocate for those who need help and educate all those I encounter on the importance of understanding mental illness and seeking treatment, specifically within the veteran population. Upon graduation, I plan on obtaining my LMSW (Licensed Master of Social Work) and eventually my LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker). With these licenses, I can dive into the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of those who suffer from mental illness.

Work Toward Healing as a Social Worker in Mental Health At Baylor University

The Master of Social Work degree program offers three specializations and several areas of concentration. One of the areas of specialization is clinical practice, with a focus on physical and mental health. This specialization prepares students  for advanced social work practice in health care settings working with interdisciplinary teams.

Throughout their time in the MSW program, students will apply evidence-based practice models in advanced case management and in mental health treatment with focus on the ethical integration of faith and social work practice and health. Graduates will be prepared for direct practice, as well as health care administration and planning roles. Explore 4 things to consider when picking an MSW program.

The stigma surrounding mental health can end — and our nation's vulnerable populations can be helped when passionate and educated mental health professionals step forward and work toward healing mental illness. 

If you want to learn more about how an MSW degree can equip you to become a mental health social worker, check out our digital resource ,  Master of Social Work — The MBA of the Helping Professions. 

Kino is a a 2019 MSW graduate who currently works for the US Department of Veteran Affairs as a "Healthcare for Homeless Veteran Social Worker". Kino was first drawn to Baylor when he heard Dr. Harris speak at an NASW Conference in 2016. Once he attended a Preview Day, he knew Baylor was the only place for him. Kino spent 10 years in the United States Military. He is passionate about working with veterans who are challenged with mental health and substance abuse issues.

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Mental health counselor vs. social worker: the msw connection, is an msw and an mba a good combination, additional helpful resource.

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Social Work in Mental Health Settings

Introduction, employment conditions, importance of social workers in mental health setting.

Social workers are regarded as highly trained individuals working closely to foster the standard of life and the well-being of other people through crisis intervention, policy changes, and educational programs. Social workers play a crucial role in ensuring that there is an improvement in general well-being and mental health among individuals. These professionals spend much of their time evaluating, identifying, nursing, and averting mental, emotional, and behavioral challenges. In addition, most social workers are dedicated to pursuing various social justice and striving to help the people affected by disabilities, poverty, unemployment, and other general and social problems. Mental health and social work are closely connected; they have been inseparable as their roots can be traced back to the 20 th century when the inaugural class was taught at Columbian University. Living with mental illness is often associated with severe challenges in society. Thus, the condition should be addressed effectively to ensure that individuals coexist comfortably. Therefore, social workers play a vital role in improving our society’s general well-being and mental health.

Over the recent years, the social work category has created a more comprehensive range of employment opportunities for individuals fascinated by studying mental health. It also helps in identifying the appropriate form of treatment and coming up with effective prevention measures. As a result, the stipulation and request for social workers specializing in psychiatry have increased significantly. According to Pilgrim (2019), employment in these two categories is anticipated to rise to approximately 18% between 2018 and 2028. This is because more individuals have begun to seek medication for their psychiatric challenges, behavioral complications, and, most critically, psychological challenges, hence illustrating the necessity for dilating the mental career. In the US, approximately one individual out of five is likely to experience or encounter mental illness yearly, which raises questions on the way and the role of social workers in diversifying the mental health sector and solving the existing challenges.

Typically, the mental healthcare sector’s social work has always been at the forefront of several economic, health, and other economic causes, such as lack or poor job, disability pay, and social security. Together with channeling for transparent and unbiased healthcare initiatives, the majority of the social care professionals also involve themselves in handling child abuse and negligence behaviors (Matthews, 2020). They also handle depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, and significant life events such as divorce, terminal illness, and bereavement. In addition, they help individuals to cope with matters surrounding lack of jobs, residential homes, and the unending types of disabilities.

Nonetheless, psychiatric social workers play an important role in supporting various families, individuals, and, most importantly, communities as they tend to overcome the day-to-day challenges hindering their well-being. An illustration of this is the motive to address the patient’s substance abuse challenges and issues; mental and social workers play a crucial role in helping the addicts recover (Fazel & Betancourt, 2018). They also help them identify new employment opportunities, obtain an affordable form of housing, and most importantly, exploit the accessible mental health services. However, since different patients have different demands and needs, the social work professionals have to base their focal point on developing an indestructible connection based on transparency, empathy, and trust. This is essential to individuals with mental challenges as they might be more sensitive to specific communication models and experiences.

Psychiatric social workers use their strength, capability, knowledge, experience, and skills to assist patients with mental challenges to evaluate, detect and handle their pre-existing conditions. Contrary to the standard policies in the psychological field or category, psychiatric social works consider the environmental and societal elements that affect an individual’s emotional well-being and physical-mental (Golightley & Goemans, 2020). Therefore, this module primarily seeks to address the pre-existing hardship contributing to the human being’s general mental health complications. Furthermore, the clinical or psychiatric social workers also consider a variety of mental health challenges which enables them to work in various settings and assist and meet the needs and wants of the different patients.

Nevertheless, school social work is regarded as a unique section that primarily bases the focal point on the evolution, turn of events, and the mental health of the US students and the general education system. These well-trained, equipped, and educated individuals hence play a vital role in helping the children and younger adults experiencing mental illness and continuous behavioral challenges (Mwebe, 2017). Therefore, working closely or together with the teachers and parents enables the social workers offer academic support so as to help the students achieve their set goals and objectives. They also participate in offering individual and group counseling to enable the students to identify and recognize the signs of negligence and abuse and, most importantly, understand their home environments.

There are also substance abuse social workers facilitating the diagnosing process and treating drug addiction cases. They work closely with the patients to ensure that they have reduced or stopped drug and alcohol consumption. In addition, they are responsible for identifying the root causes of addiction, and most importantly, they have to come up with a detailed and effective treatment plan (Golightley & Goemans, 2020). Most of the substance and drug abuse social laborers are employed at various healthcare facilities, sudden and abrupt withdrawal centers, and even the mental clinics where drug addicts are trying to recover.

Nonetheless, for the patients undergoing acute crisis or are in a dangerous situation, they might hurt themselves. Therefore, the psychiatric social workers have to conduct a thorough evaluation, short-term crisis support, and, most crucially, care coordination as part of the crisis team. Furthermore, the mental illness social workers tend to work together with the crisis and emergency personnel to assess the needs and wants of their patients. They also play a crucial task in helping obtain the intensive and premium care they require and, most importantly, give recommendations regarding involuntary hospitalization (Fazel & Betancourt, 2018). However, the crisis service environment is regarded as short-term compared to the inpatient hospital mental illness settings. This is because the patients are directed to hospitals and intensive care facilities only when they receive long-term care.

In the outpatient psychiatric setting, the mental illness social workers offer effective therapy and care coordination to the individuals who do not require immediate hospitalization but still have a mental illness. However, most patients in this type of setup are at a higher risk of being hospitalized or discharged from an inpatient type of setting (Mwebe, 2017). The social workers in this setting also tend to work for longer hours to attend to their patients and even guide them through multiple systems compared to their counterparts in the inpatient setting. In addition, they have to offer therapy to patients with a wide range of mental health needs, including depression and anxiety.

The primary goal of psychiatric social workers is to stabilize and support individuals encountering intense and persistent psychological distress. They achieve this by combining diagnostic evaluations, individual and group therapies, and care coordination. In addition, they are responsible for conducting diagnostic assessments such as the mental treatment history, care management that entails monitoring the patient’s progress throughout the treatment period (Pilgrim, 2019). However, despite playing a pivotal role in transforming the mental illness setting, psychiatric social work also has several shortcomings. It is unpredictable and dangerous as there is a lack of insurance or coverage for mental health services. Furthermore, the setting also encounters a lack of an effective form of transportation and language barriers. However, this shortcoming may be curbed and mitigated by addressing the safety challenges and educating people.

In conclusion, social workers have significantly participated in transforming the mental illness sets. They have ensured that they diagnose and treat the existing mental health conditions. In addition, they have offered various individuals, parents, couples, and family therapies as well as helping them to overcome matters surrounding anxiety, depression, and other behavioral challenges. They have also ensured that overall human health and the well-being of individuals have improved in various societies. The social workers achieved this by connecting the patients to the needed services and facilitating communication between the relevant authorities and stakeholders to ensure the best care. Nonetheless, the social workers also work together with other organizations and clients to help them solve the challenges they encounter in their day-to-day lives.

Fazel, M., & Betancourt, T. S. (2018). Preventive mental health interventions for refugee children and adolescents in high-income settings. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health , 2 (2), 121-132. Web.

Golightley, M., & Goemans, R. (2020). Social work and mental health . Sage.

Matthews, E. B. (2020). Both insider and outsider: On conducting social work research in mental health settings Beth Sapiro. Web.

Mwebe, H. (2017). Physical health monitoring in mental health settings: A study explores mental health nurses’ role views. Journal of Clinical Nursing , 26 (19-20), 3067-3078. Web.

Pilgrim, D. (2019). Critical concepts in mental health . Sage.

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Article Contents

Introduction, frameworks for understanding recovery, personalised approaches to recovery, carers and recovery, survivors of domestic violence, recovery from disasters, social work and recovery.

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Martin Webber, Lynette Joubert, Social Work and Recovery, The British Journal of Social Work , Volume 45, Issue suppl_1, December 2015, Pages i1–i8, https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcv125

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Recovery is a process whereby individuals or families restore rights, roles and responsibilities lost through illness, disability or other social problems. It requires hope and empowerment, supported by a vision for a different way of being. Recovery is a concept at the heart of social work practice, though the profession is frequently following others in articulating and evidencing good practice ( Webber, 2010 ). Yet, despite the theoretical basis of recovery finding synergy with social work, there is limited research informing social workers on how to intervene effectively and to influence the social factors enabling or impeding recovery ( Tew et al. , 2012 ).

Social work practice includes people with a wide range of experiences who are engaged in a recovery process. Although the understanding of recovery is unique for individuals, whether it is in the context of mental health issues, situational and natural disasters, domestic violence, child sexual abuse or social isolation in late life, there are common themes which inform the social work response. This Special Issue seeks to describe, define and analyse the experience of recovery to further our understanding of the concept for social work practice in different contexts.

There are contradictory opinions as to what constitutes a definition of the concept of ‘recovery’, and this confuses the translation of this concept into social work practice ( Starnino, 2009 ). Other disciplines, such as psychiatry or psychology, have incorporated recovery into their professional discourses. Whilst the focus for most psychiatrists is on diagnosing symptoms and prescribing treatment, for example, many understand recovery to be living with ongoing mental health problems. Survivors of mental health services, however, have taken this further and defined recovery as regaining control over one's life and self-management of mental health ( Sweeney et al. , 2009 ). Professional conceptions of recovery are often at odds from those developed by people experiencing recovery. This becomes a problem when recovery becomes an accepted discourse such as in community mental health service delivery or articulated in policy directions ( Her Majesty's Government, 2011 ; Department of Human Services, 2009 ).

Recovery is rarely taught as a social theory informing social work practice on qualifying programmes, possibly because it is under-theorised and lacking a well-developed evidence base. Taylor (2006) notes that, in most social work textbooks, a holistic, bio-psycho-social systems approach is central to social work theory and practice in the same way as it is central to the recovery model. However, social workers frequently have low expectations for the people they work with, whose problems are often entrenched and intractable. Occasionally, hopelessness takes over and optimism about recovery dissipates. This is contrary to social work values based on client self-determination, well-being and an emphasis on environmental factors. Social workers lack confidence in articulating their practice in terms of recovery. Research and increased knowledge dissemination and translation are needed to enable increased confidence in the profession and to strengthen programme innovation ( Floyd Taylor and Bentley, 2004 ).

Recovery is at the heart of social models of illness and disability ( Slade, 2009 ). Although the social work profession is uncertain about articulating its role in recovery, it shares its values and its discourses are congruent. Practitioners are working daily to support the recovery of the individuals and families they are working with, frequently using highly effective approaches such as strengths or asset-based assessments, self-directed support or enhancing social inclusion. Social support networks, for instance, are recognised as an important component of the recovery process ( Pernice-Duca, 2010 ) as they relate directly to positive measures of well-being, self-efficacy and effective coping strategies. The main difference, however, with social work in relation to other professional groups is our relative lack of confidence in articulating and evidencing recovery practice.

This Special Issue aims to reclaim recovery discourses for social work and bring them back into the profession's mainstream thinking. It aims to identify the social work contribution to the evidence base for recovery practice and make a distinctive contribution towards it by focusing on empirical studies. Through shared values and discourses with proponents of social recovery, this Special Issue renews the commitment of social work to the principles of recovery by allying with people experiencing social problems and supporting their journey to recovery. Specifically, it aims to explore social work interventions which are effective in promoting recovery and exploring service user experiences. It is not restricted to one set of related problems, such as mental health problems or substance misuse, but instead focuses across a range of issues to explore recovery narratives for social work. Ultimately, it aims to provide a clear focus on recovery for the social work profession.

In this Special Issue, we start our journey towards a social work understanding of recovery in Canada (Williams). Like many other high-income countries, Canada's mental health services are orienting themselves to supporting people to obtain hope, meaning and purpose in their lives whilst experiencing enduring mental health difficulties. In doing so, they are encountering a common tension between service user and professional perspectives on recovery. At the heart of this tension is the issue of power and control, which is not currently addressed by recovery narratives.

Social workers hold positions of power in mental health services, such as their leadership of the Approved Mental Health Practitioner role in England and Wales ( Rapaport, 2006 ). Acting as gate-keepers to compulsory treatment, which is experienced by service users as disempowering whether at home ( Ridley and Hunter, 2013 ) or in hospital ( Sibitz et al. , 2011 ), social workers are acutely aware of the power inherent in their roles. At the same time, though, their independence from the dominant psychiatric paradigm permits social workers to identify with the concerns of service users whilst simultaneously maintaining a relationship with institutions, such as mental health services, which influence an individual's recovery ( Nathan and Webber, 2010 ). This places social workers in a unique position to incorporate discourses of power in their recovery narratives.

Williams integrates power into the recovery discourse by developing a biopsychosociopolitical frame for recovery for people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia in Canada. In addition to biomedical, psychological and social contexts for recovery, they identify a socio-political context, whereby recovery is about becoming full members of society. Participants noted that receiving a diagnosis of schizophrenia led to them becoming ‘lesser citizens’, shifting power away from them into the hands of others. Supporting people to attain full citizenship, achieve meaningful social roles and challenge stigma are key priorities for social workers supporting individuals' recovery.

The services which employ mental health social workers, though, appear to inhibit recovery-oriented practice. As in England, where a ‘payment by results’ system incentivises throughput rather than achieving an individual's recovery goals, a pressure to close cases is predominant in Québec's mental health services (Khoury). Here, discourses of recovery appear to be driven by professionals and are paternalistic. Consequently, social workers construct their recovery narratives in the context of the institutions in which they practise rather than from service user or citizenship perspectives. Although they embody key recovery values such as community mobilisation, respect and person-centredness, the mental health social workers in Khoury's study articulate a narrow professionalised conception of recovery as regaining psycho-social functioning. Khoury's findings highlight an imperative for social workers to challenge reductionist thinking about recovery and to be critically reflective of their own position within dominant institutions. Social work values align with service user conceptions of recovery, often in contradiction to the institutions in which they practise, but practitioners need support to challenge dominant discourses.

Mental health services in Australia also appear to lack a recovery orientation despite national policy which expresses the importance of personal recovery as a goal for services. In her study of the perspectives of mental health service users and practitioners, Davies found that, although personal recovery was a key policy goal, services have been slow to move beyond a clinical notion of recovery, which emphasise symptomology and diagnosis. These findings suggest that social workers are required to engage with the social context and communities in which service users live to meaningfully engage with their personal recovery. As social workers are familiar with working with service users' social contexts, they are well placed to inform the transformation of mental health services into recovery-oriented services. However, the social work voice is not as powerful as those of other mental health professional groups, which impacts on its ability to effect change in clinically oriented mental health services.

Inpatient wards are perhaps one of the places where social work perspectives on recovery are least prominent. Biomedical and psychological interventions are dominant, often with limited social work input. However, Hyde's study in rural New South Wales, Australia, found that the personal and social components of recovery are just as important to people during an acute phase of care in hospital as when they are living at home. The importance of active listening, peer support and family inclusion were highlighted by inpatients, all of which fall within the remit of social workers. This suggests that social workers in mental health services, whether based in hospitals or the community, have a role to play in challenging clinical definitions of recovery and supporting individuals' personal recovery.

Recovery-oriented practice requires a shift in power from the practitioner to the service user. Rather than a practitioner defining when an individual has ‘recovered’, service users should be empowered to define what recovery means to them. This will necessarily be unique and meaningful to the individual, though recovery experiences may be held in common with others. This shift in power and control to individual service users is counter-cultural in many mental health services, though is perhaps less unfamiliar to social workers.

Personal budgets are being increasingly used in mental health services as a way of personalising care and support. By empowering individual service users to make decisions about their care and support, personal budgets have the potential to embody recovery-oriented practice. Two papers from England and Australia explore the role of personal budgets in promoting recovery.

Tew et al. use data from in-depth interviews with fifty-three personal budget holders in England to explore how they used their budgets to support their recovery. While few participants explicitly linked their personal budget to recovery, there is some evidence that personal budgets can be used to build ‘recovery capital’ ( Tew, 2013 ). Social workers have an important role to play in fostering more co-productive relationships with service users which empower them to use personal budgets to help them feel more in control of their lives.

In the State of Victoria, Australia, psycho-social disability, rehabilitation and support services are moving towards being funded by individual packages of funding rather than block funding. While this requires services to be more responsive to the needs of individuals, as in any personalised service, this development has created some anxiety among current service users. Brophy et al. found that many of the people living with psycho-social disabilities they interviewed for their study did not think they would be eligible for individualised funding and would lose their current service. They valued the support of other people to improve their health, well-being, relationships and financial situations.

Personalised funding arrangements which support recovery could see a shift in the social work role from being a ‘care manager’ or a ‘care co-ordinator’ to becoming a ‘coach’ or ‘facilitator’. Such roles utilise core social work skills and may help recover a distinctive identity for social work which occasionally struggles to define its unique contribution in mental health services.

Strengthening and building relationships have been identified as core recovery processes for people with mental health problems ( Leamy et al. , 2011 ). Social workers play an important role in providing support to families, carers and friends of individuals with mental health problems. However, as Fox found in her study of recovery training for carers in the UK, carers appear to have a traditional notion of recovery based on regaining social functioning. Providing training helped carers to see recovery as a more complex notion and changed their role from ‘helper’ to ‘enabler’. The training appeared to help carers become more hopeful about their relative's future. This study suggests that, if family interventions are based on recovery principles, they could strengthen carers' and families' orientation towards recovery. Carers were unable to articulate clearly what social workers' roles were in this study, highlighting the importance of developing a clear recovery focus for social work interventions with families.

While working with the carers of ageing people living with mental health problems is a usual focus for mental health social workers, recent studies affirm the importance of engaging actively with the individual older person if recovery and hope are to be integrated routinely into services ( Daley et al. , 2013 ). In their paper, Matsuoka et al. explored the meaning of recovery for a group of Japanese-Canadian older adults who participated in a series of workshops using the Wellness Recovery Action Plan ( Copeland, 2002 ). The participants described their workshop experience as reaffirming their self-worth, while increasing positive feelings about their lives and self-reflectiveness. In addition, it strengthened their capacity to advocate for themselves. Interestingly, a long-term outcome of the programme involved participants taking the initiative to form a peer support group, where they facilitated an active and sustained membership. Matsuoka et al. describe facilitation and engagement as core components of a social work approach to promoting recovery.

Peer support has been found to promote recovery for women and children subjected to domestic violence. In their paper on the adoption of a peer-supported growth perspective to recovery from the experience of domestic violence, Katz et al. explore the ways in which mothers and children with past experience of domestic violence can help each other. They analysed the content of thirty qualitative interviews with UK participants who had accessed services from community organisations. Recovery occurred not only from the professional help offered initially, but mothers and children found that through informal contact with each other they were able to promote long-term well-being. This included reassuring one another, rebuilding confidence and self-esteem, and assisting one another in understanding the past.

Both Australia and New Zealand have suffered deeply from the tragedy of natural disasters in recent years, especially bush fires and earthquakes. The experience of people caught up in these events has urged social workers to evaluate how they can intervene to enable growth beyond the tragedy. Harms et al. found that loss through death of friends and community members after the Black Saturday fires in Victoria was found to be predictive of poorer mental health outcomes. The sense of these relationships as being ‘like family’ was identified as important, as was coping with multiple deaths and the stress of having to notify other people in the community. The shared grief experience influenced psycho-social recovery. People's perception of loss reflected their social networks and they had an increased exposure to death because of their close relationships with people in affected areas. The individual recovery process was influenced by community recovery.

This study highlights the importance of community cohesion in the experience of loss and recovery after disasters, especially where people have sustained connections to the community in which the disaster occurs. This raises the issue of what happens when migrants and refugees, who do not identify strongly with communities in which they live, are caught up in natural disasters. Marlowe describes the experience of refugees after the Canterbury earthquakes in New Zealand and highlights the importance of working with refugee survivors to develop a sense of belonging and community identity as core to the recovery process. Community identity is an under-developed concept in recovery and includes contextual, chronological and gendered dimensions. Refugee resettlement programmes do offer security to migrant people but this is severely challenged in the context of a natural disaster. Civic participation and social connection to promote ‘belonging’ within communities which reach out to include refugees were found to be important in the aftermath of the earthquake in Canterbury.

Tudor et al. describe a different and novel approach to fostering recovery in earthquake survivors in the same community in Canterbury. They describe the benefits of craft initiatives which created opportunities for healing and recovery through social support, giving to others, meaning-making and developing a vision for the future. Their data analysis from focus groups and individual interviews is informed by a post-traumatic growth framework. Social workers rarely engage in such interventions, yet craft groups were found to foster community cohesion and belonging in the Canterbury community.

This Special Issue features international contributions to social work research and thinking about recovery across multiple fields which highlight the distinct and diverse social work contribution to a growing evidence base about recovery. Together, these papers suggest that social workers can, and do, play a vital role in supporting recovery in many practice domains. For example, a clear social work role is to engage with the social and community contexts of individuals to support their recovery. This includes supporting people as citizens and members of communities, but also as peers who have valuable experiences which they can share with others to promote their recovery. Additionally, empowering individuals to take more control over their own care and support appears to be important in supporting recovery.

The challenge for social work practitioners is to see beyond practice frameworks used by employers, which may focus on clinical recovery rather than personal recovery, towards an understanding of recovery which has the individual service user at its heart. There may be challenges in implementing a social work practice framework for recovery, and it may require developing new skills such as coaching or facilitating. However, we hope that this Special Issue helps social work to evidence and articulate its own unique contribution to recovery practice.

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Mental Health Essay

Introduction

Mental health, often overshadowed by its physical counterpart, is an intricate and essential aspect of human existence. It envelops our emotions, psychological state, and social well-being, shaping our thoughts, behaviors, and interactions. With the complexities of modern life—constant connectivity, societal pressures, personal expectations, and the frenzied pace of technological advancements—mental well-being has become increasingly paramount. Historically, conversations around this topic have been hushed, shrouded in stigma and misunderstanding. However, as the curtains of misconception slowly lift, we find ourselves in an era where discussions about mental health are not only welcomed but are also seen as vital. Recognizing and addressing the nuances of our mental state is not merely about managing disorders; it's about understanding the essence of who we are, how we process the world around us, and how we navigate the myriad challenges thrown our way. This essay aims to delve deep into the realm of mental health, shedding light on its importance, the potential consequences of neglect, and the spectrum of mental disorders that many face in silence.

Importance of Mental Health

Mental health plays a pivotal role in determining how individuals think, feel, and act. It influences our decision-making processes, stress management techniques, interpersonal relationships, and even our physical health. A well-tuned mental state boosts productivity, creativity, and the intrinsic sense of self-worth, laying the groundwork for a fulfilling life.

Negative Impact of Mental Health

Neglecting mental health, on the other hand, can lead to severe consequences. Reduced productivity, strained relationships, substance abuse, physical health issues like heart diseases, and even reduced life expectancy are just some of the repercussions of poor mental health. It not only affects the individual in question but also has a ripple effect on their community, workplace, and family.

Mental Disorders: Types and Prevalence

Mental disorders are varied and can range from anxiety and mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder to more severe conditions such as schizophrenia.

• Depression: Characterized by persistent sadness, lack of interest in activities, and fatigue.
• Anxiety Disorders: Encompass conditions like generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, and specific phobias.
• Schizophrenia: A complex disorder affecting a person's ability to think, feel, and behave clearly.

The prevalence of these disorders has been on the rise, underscoring the need for comprehensive mental health initiatives and awareness campaigns.

Understanding Mental Health and Its Importance

Mental health is not merely the absence of disorders but encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Recognizing the signs of deteriorating mental health, like prolonged sadness, extreme mood fluctuations, or social withdrawal, is crucial. Understanding stems from awareness and education. Societal stigmas surrounding mental health have often deterred individuals from seeking help. Breaking these barriers, fostering open conversations, and ensuring access to mental health care are imperative steps.

Conclusion: Mental Health

Mental health, undeniably, is as significant as physical health, if not more. In an era where the stressors are myriad, from societal pressures to personal challenges, mental resilience and well-being are essential. Investing time and resources into mental health initiatives, and more importantly, nurturing a society that understands, respects, and prioritizes mental health is the need of the hour.

• World Leaders: Several influential personalities, from celebrities to sports stars, have openly discussed their mental health challenges, shedding light on the universality of these issues and the importance of addressing them.
• Workplaces: Progressive organizations are now incorporating mental health programs, recognizing the tangible benefits of a mentally healthy workforce, from increased productivity to enhanced creativity.
• Educational Institutions: Schools and colleges, witnessing the effects of stress and other mental health issues on students, are increasingly integrating counseling services and mental health education in their curriculum.

In weaving through the intricate tapestry of mental health, it becomes evident that it's an area that requires collective attention, understanding, and action.

  Short Essay about Mental Health

Mental health, an integral facet of human well-being, shapes our emotions, decisions, and daily interactions. Just as one would care for a sprained ankle or a fever, our minds too require attention and nurture. In today's bustling world, mental well-being is often put on the back burner, overshadowed by the immediate demands of life. Yet, its impact is pervasive, influencing our productivity, relationships, and overall quality of life.

Sadly, mental health issues have long been stigmatized, seen as a sign of weakness or dismissed as mere mood swings. However, they are as real and significant as any physical ailment. From anxiety to depression, these disorders have touched countless lives, often in silence due to societal taboos.

But change is on the horizon. As awareness grows, conversations are shifting from hushed whispers to open discussions, fostering understanding and support. Institutions, workplaces, and communities are increasingly acknowledging the importance of mental health, implementing programs, and offering resources.

In conclusion, mental health is not a peripheral concern but a central one, crucial to our holistic well-being. It's high time we prioritize it, eliminating stigma and fostering an environment where everyone feels supported in their mental health journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the primary focus of a mental health essay?

Answer: The primary focus of a mental health essay is to delve into the intricacies of mental well-being, its significance in our daily lives, the various challenges people face, and the broader societal implications. It aims to shed light on both the psychological and emotional aspects of mental health, often emphasizing the importance of understanding, empathy, and proactive care.

• How can writing an essay on mental health help raise awareness about its importance?

Answer: Writing an essay on mental health can effectively articulate the nuances and complexities of the topic, making it more accessible to a wider audience. By presenting facts, personal anecdotes, and research, the essay can demystify misconceptions, highlight the prevalence of mental health issues, and underscore the need for destigmatizing discussions around it. An impactful essay can ignite conversations, inspire action, and contribute to a more informed and empathetic society.

• What are some common topics covered in a mental health essay?

Answer: Common topics in a mental health essay might include the definition and importance of mental health, the connection between mental and physical well-being, various mental disorders and their symptoms, societal stigmas and misconceptions, the impact of modern life on mental health, and the significance of therapy and counseling. It may also delve into personal experiences, case studies, and the broader societal implications of neglecting mental health.

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The Impact of Social Media on the Mental Health of Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Review

Abderrahman m khalaf.

1 Psychiatry Department, Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, SAU

Abdullah A Alubied

Ahmed m khalaf.

2 College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, SAU

Abdallah A Rifaey

3 College of Medicine, Almaarefa University, Riyadh, SAU

Adolescents increasingly find it difficult to picture their lives without social media. Practitioners need to be able to assess risk, and social media may be a new component to consider. Although there is limited empirical evidence to support the claim, the perception of the link between social media and mental health is heavily influenced by teenage and professional perspectives. Privacy concerns, cyberbullying, and bad effects on schooling and mental health are all risks associated with this population's usage of social media. However, ethical social media use can expand opportunities for connection and conversation, as well as boost self-esteem, promote health, and gain access to critical medical information. Despite mounting evidence of social media's negative effects on adolescent mental health, there is still a scarcity of empirical research on how teens comprehend social media, particularly as a body of wisdom, or how they might employ wider modern media discourses to express themselves. Youth use cell phones and other forms of media in large numbers, resulting in chronic sleep loss, which has a negative influence on cognitive ability, school performance, and socio-emotional functioning. According to data from several cross-sectional, longitudinal, and empirical research, smartphone and social media use among teenagers relates to an increase in mental distress, self-harming behaviors, and suicidality. Clinicians can work with young people and their families to reduce the hazards of social media and smartphone usage by using open, nonjudgmental, and developmentally appropriate tactics, including education and practical problem-solving.

Introduction and background

Humans are naturally social species that depend on the companionship of others to thrive in life. Thus, while being socially linked with others helps alleviate stress, worry, and melancholy, a lack of social connection can pose major threats to one's mental health [ 1 ]. Over the past 10 years, the rapid emergence of social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and others has led to some significant changes in how people connect and communicate (Table 1 ). Over one billion people are currently active users of Facebook, the largest social networking website, and it is anticipated that this number will grow significantly over time, especially in developing countries. Facebook is used for both personal and professional interaction, and its deployment has had a number of positive effects on connectivity, idea sharing, and online learning [ 2 ]. Furthermore, the number of social media users globally in 2019 was 3.484 billion, a 9% increase year on year [ 3 ].

Mental health is represented as a state of well-being in which individuals recognize their potential, successfully navigate daily challenges, perform effectively at work, and make a substantial difference in the lives of others [ 4 ]. There is currently debate over the benefits and drawbacks of social media on mental health [ 5 ]. Social networking is an important part of safeguarding our mental health. Mental health, health behavior, physical health, and mortality risk are all affected by the quantity and quality of social contacts [ 5 ].

Social media use and mental health may be related, and the displaced behavior theory could assist in clarifying why. The displaced behavior hypothesis is a psychology theory that suggests people have limited self-control and, when confronted with a challenging or stressful situation, may engage in behaviors that bring instant gratification but are not in accordance with their long-term objectives [ 6 ]. In addition, when people are unable to deal with stress in a healthy way, they may act out in ways that temporarily make them feel better but ultimately harm their long-term goals and wellness [ 7 , 8 ]. In the 1990s, social psychologist Roy Baumeister initially suggested the displaced behavior theory [ 9 ]. Baumeister suggested that self-control is a limited resource that can be drained over time and that when self-control resources are low, people are more likely to engage in impulsive or self-destructive conduct [ 9 ]. This can lead to a cycle of bad behaviors and outcomes, as individuals may engage in behaviors that bring short respite but eventually add to their stress and difficulties [ 9 ]. According to the hypothetical terms, those who participate in sedentary behaviors, including social media, engage in fewer opportunities for in-person social interaction, both of which have been demonstrated to be protective against mental illnesses [ 10 ]. Social theories, on the other hand, discovered that social media use influences mental health by affecting how people interpret, maintain, and interact with their social network [ 4 ].

Numerous studies on social media's effects have been conducted, and it has been proposed that prolonged use of social media sites like Facebook may be linked to negative manifestations and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress [ 11 ]. A distinct and important time in a person's life is adolescence. Additionally, risk factors such as family issues, bullying, and social isolation are readily available at this period, and it is crucial to preserve social and emotional growth. The growth of digital technology has affected numerous areas of adolescent lives. Nowadays, teenagers' use of social media is one of their most apparent characteristics. Being socially connected with other people is a typical phenomenon, whether at home, school, or a social gathering, and adolescents are constantly in touch with their classmates via social media accounts. Adolescents are drawn to social networking sites because they allow them to publish pictures, images, and videos on their platforms. It also allows teens to establish friends, discuss ideas, discover new interests, and try out new kinds of self-expression. Users of these platforms can freely like and comment on posts as well as share them without any restrictions. Teenagers now frequently post insulting remarks on social media platforms. Adolescents frequently engage in trolling for amusement without recognizing the potentially harmful consequences. Trolling on these platforms focuses on body shaming, individual abilities, language, and lifestyle, among other things. The effects that result from trolling might cause anxiety, depressive symptoms, stress, feelings of isolation, and suicidal thoughts. The authors explain the influence of social media on teenage well-being through a review of existing literature and provide intervention and preventative measures at the individual, family, and community levels [ 12 ].

Although there is a "generally correlated" link between teen social media use and depression, certain outcomes have been inconsistent (such as the association between time spent on social media and mental health issues), and the data quality is frequently poor [ 13 ]. Browsing social media could increase your risk of self-harm, loneliness, and empathy loss, according to a number of research studies. Other studies either concluded that there is no harm or that some people, such as those who are socially isolated or marginalized, may benefit from using social media [ 10 ]. Because of the rapid expansion of the technological landscape in recent years, social media has become increasingly important in the lives of young people. Social networking has created both enormous new challenges and interesting new opportunities. Research is beginning to indicate how specific social media interactions may impair young people's mental health [ 14 ]. Teenagers could communicate with one another on social media platforms, as well as produce, like, and share content. In most cases, these individuals are categorized as active users. On the other hand, teens can also use social media in a passive manner by "lurking" and focusing entirely on the content that is posted by others. The difference between active and passive social media usage is sometimes criticized as a false dichotomy because it does not necessarily reveal whether a certain activity is goal-oriented or indicative of procrastination [ 15 ]. However, the text provides no justification for why this distinction is wrong [ 16 ]. For instance, one definition of procrastination is engaging in conversation with other people to put off working on a task that is more important. The goal of seeing the information created by other people, as opposed to participating with those same individuals, may be to keep up with the lives of friends. One of the most important distinctions that can be made between the various sorts is whether the usage is social. When it comes to understanding and evaluating all these different applications of digital technology, there are a lot of obstacles to overcome. Combining all digital acts into a single predictor of pleasure would, from both a philosophical and an empirical one, invariably results in a reduction in accuracy [ 17 ].

Methodology

This systematic review was carried out and reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement and standard practices in the field. The purpose of this study was to identify studies on the influence of technology, primarily social media, on the psychosocial functioning, health, and well-being of adolescents and young adults.

The MEDLINE bibliographical database, PubMed, Google Scholar, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), and Scopus were searched between 1 January 2000 and 30 May 2023. Social media AND mental health AND adolescents AND young adults were included in the search strategy (impact or relation or effect or influence).

Two researchers (AK and AR) separately conducted a literature search utilizing the search method and evaluated the inclusion eligibility of the discovered papers based on their titles and abstracts. Then, the full texts of possibly admissible publications were retrieved and evaluated for inclusion. Disagreements among the researchers were resolved by debate and consensus.

The researchers included studies that examined the impact of technology, primarily social media, on the psychosocial functioning, health, and well-being of adolescents and young adults. We only considered English publications, reviews, longitudinal surveys, and cross-sectional studies. We excluded studies that were not written in English, were not comparative, were case reports, did not report the results of interest, or did not list the authors' names. We also found additional articles by looking at the reference lists of the retrieved articles.

Using a uniform form, the two researchers (AK and AA) extracted the data individually and independently. The extracted data include the author, publication year, study design, sample size and age range, outcome measures, and the most important findings or conclusions.

A narrative synthesis of the findings was used to analyze the data, which required summarizing and presenting the results of the included research in a logical and intelligible manner. Each study's key findings or conclusions were summarized in a table.

Study Selection

A thorough search of electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library, was done from 1 January 2000 to 20 May 2023. Initial research revealed 326 potentially relevant studies. After deleting duplicates and screening titles and abstracts, the eligibility of 34 full-text publications was evaluated. A total of 23 papers were removed for a variety of reasons, including non-comparative studies, case reports, and studies that did not report results of interest (Figure ​ (Figure1 1 ).

PRISMA: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.

This systematic review identified 11 studies that examined the connection between social media use and depression symptoms in children and adolescents. The research demonstrated a modest but statistically significant association between social media use and depression symptoms. However, this relationship's causality is unclear, and additional study is required to construct explanatory models and hypotheses for inferential studies [ 18 ].

Additional research studied the effects of technology on the psychosocial functioning, health, and well-being of adolescents and young adults. Higher levels of social media usage were connected with worse mental health outcomes [ 19 ], and higher levels of social media use were associated with an increased risk of internalizing and externalizing difficulties among adolescents, especially females [ 20 ]. The use of social media was also connected with body image problems and disordered eating, especially among young women [ 21 ], and social media may be a risk factor for alcohol consumption and associated consequences among adolescents and young adults [ 22 ].

It was discovered that cyberbullying victimization is connected with poorer mental health outcomes in teenagers, including an increased risk of sadness and anxiety [ 23 ]. The use of social media was also connected with more depressive symptoms and excessive reassurance-seeking, but also with greater popularity and perceived social support [ 24 ], as well as appearance comparisons and body image worries, especially among young women [ 25 ]. Children and adolescents' bedtime media device use was substantially related to inadequate sleep quantity, poor sleep quality, and excessive daytime drowsiness [ 26 ].

Online friends can be a significant source of social support, but in-person social support appears to provide greater protection against persecution [ 27 ]. Digital and social media use offers both benefits and risks to the health of children and adolescents, and an individualized family media use plan can help strike a balance between screen time/online time and other activities, set boundaries for accessing content, promote digital literacy, and support open family communication and consistent media use rules (Tables ​ (Tables2, 2 , ​ ,3) 3 ) [ 28 ].

Does Social Media Have a Positive or Negative Impact on Adolescents and Young Adults?

Adults frequently blame the media for the problems that younger generations face, conceptually bundling different behaviors and patterns of use under a single term when it comes to using media to increase acceptance or a feeling of community [ 29 , 30 ]. The effects of social media on mental health are complex, as different goals are served by different behaviors and different outcomes are produced by distinct patterns of use [ 31 ]. The numerous ways that people use digital technology are often disregarded by policymakers and the general public, as they are seen as "generic activities" that do not have any specific impact [ 32 ]. Given this, it is crucial to acknowledge the complex nature of the effects that digital technology has on adolescents' mental health [ 19 ]. This empirical uncertainty is made worse by the fact that there are not many documented metrics of how technology is used. Self-reports are the most commonly used method for measuring technology use, but they can be prone to inaccuracy. This is because self-reports are based on people's own perceptions of their behavior, and these perceptions can be inaccurate [ 33 ]. At best, there is simply a weak correlation between self-reported smartphone usage patterns and levels that have been objectively verified [ 34 , 35 ].

When all different kinds of technological use are lumped together into a single behavioral category, not only does the measurement of that category contribute to a loss of precision, but the category also contributes to a loss of precision. To obtain precision, we need to investigate the repercussions of a wide variety of applications, ideally guided by the findings of scientific research [ 36 ]. The findings of this research have frequently been difficult to interpret, with many of them suggesting that using social media may have a somewhat negative but significantly damaging impact on one's mental health [ 36 ]. There is a growing corpus of research that is attempting to provide a more in-depth understanding of the elements that influence the development of mental health, social interaction, and emotional growth in adolescents [ 20 ].

It is challenging to provide a succinct explanation of the effects that social media has on young people because it makes use of a range of different digital approaches [ 37 , 38 ]. To utilize and respond to social media in either an adaptive or maladaptive manner, it is crucial to first have a solid understanding of personal qualities that some children may be more likely to exhibit than others [ 39 ]. In addition to this, the specific behaviors or experiences on social media that put teenagers in danger need to be recognized.

When a previous study particularly questioned teenagers in the United States, the authors found that 31% of them believe the consequences are predominantly good, 45% believe they are neither positive nor harmful, and 24% believe they are unfavorable [ 21 ]. Teens who considered social media beneficial reported that they were able to interact with friends, learn new things, and meet individuals who shared similar interests because of it. Social media is said to enhance the possibility of (i) bullying, (ii) ignoring face-to-face contact, and (iii) obtaining incorrect beliefs about the lives of other people, according to those who believe the ramifications are serious [ 21 ]. In addition, there is the possibility of avoiding depression and suicide by recognizing the warning signs and making use of the information [ 40 ]. A common topic that comes up in this area of research is the connection that should be made between traditional risks and those that can be encountered online. The concept that the digital age and its effects are too sophisticated, rapidly shifting, or nuanced for us to fully comprehend or properly shepherd young people through is being questioned, which challenges the traditional narrative that is sent to parents [ 41 ]. The last thing that needs to be looked at is potential mediators of the link between social factors and teenage depression and suicidality (for example, gender, age, and the participation of parents) [ 22 ].

The Dangers That Come With Young Adults Utilizing Social Media

The experiences that adolescents have with their peers have a substantial impact on the onset and maintenance of psychopathology in those teenagers. Peer relationships in the world of social media can be more frequent, intense, and rapid than in real life [ 42 ]. Previous research [ 22 ] has identified a few distinct types of peer interactions that can take place online as potential risk factors for mental health. Being the target of cyberbullying, also known as cyber victimization, has been shown to relate to greater rates of self-inflicted damage, suicidal ideation, and a variety of other internalizing and externalizing issues [ 43 ]. Additionally, young people may be put in danger by the peer pressure that can be found on social networking platforms [ 44 ]. This can take the form of being rejected by peers, engaging in online fights, or being involved in drama or conflict [ 45 ]. Peer influence processes may also be amplified among teenagers who spend time online, where they have access to a wider diversity of their peers as well as content that could be damaging to them [ 46 ]. If young people are exposed to information on social media that depicts risky behavior, their likelihood of engaging in such behavior themselves (such as drinking or using other drugs) may increase [ 22 ]. It may be simple to gain access to online materials that deal with self-harm and suicide, which may result in an increase in the risk of self-harm among adolescents who are already at risk [ 22 ]. A recent study found that 14.8% of young people who were admitted to mental hospitals because they posed a risk to others or themselves had viewed internet sites that encouraged suicide in the two weeks leading up to their admission [ 24 ]. The research was conducted on young people who were referred to mental hospitals because they constituted a risk to others or themselves [ 24 ]. They prefer to publish pictures of themselves on social networking sites, which results in a steady flow of messages and pictures that are often and painstakingly modified to present people in a favorable light [ 24 ]. This influences certain young individuals, leading them to begin making unfavorable comparisons between themselves and others, whether about their achievements, their abilities, or their appearance [ 47 , 48 ].

There is a correlation between higher levels of social networking in comparison and depressed symptoms in adolescents, according to studies [ 25 ]. When determining how the use of technology impacts the mental health of adolescents, it is essential to consider the issue of displacement. This refers to the question of what other important activities are being replaced by time spent on social media [ 49 ]. It is a well-established fact that the circadian rhythms of children and adolescents have a substantial bearing on both their physical and mental development.

However, past studies have shown a consistent connection between using a mobile device before bed and poorer sleep quality results [ 50 ]. These results include shorter sleep lengths, decreased sleep quality, and daytime tiredness [ 50 ]. Notably, 36% of adolescents claim they wake up at least once over the course of the night to check their electronic devices, and 40% of adolescents say they use a mobile device within five minutes of going to bed [ 25 ]. Because of this, the impact of social media on the quality of sleep continues to be a substantial risk factor for subsequent mental health disorders in young people, making it an essential topic for the continuation of research in this area [ 44 ].

Most studies that have been conducted to investigate the link between using social media and experiencing depression symptoms have concentrated on how frequently and problematically people use social media [ 4 ]. Most of the research that was taken into consideration for this study found a positive and reciprocal link between the use of social media and feelings of depression and, on occasion, suicidal ideation [ 51 , 52 ]. Additionally, it is unknown to what extent the vulnerability of teenagers and the characteristics of substance use affect this connection [ 52 ]. It is also unknown whether other aspects of the environment, such as differences in cultural norms or the advice and support provided by parents, have any bearing on this connection [ 25 ]. Even if it is probable that moderate use relates to improved self-regulation, it is not apparent whether this is the result of intermediate users having naturally greater self-regulation [ 25 ].

Gains From Social Media

Even though most of the debate on young people and new media has centered on potential issues, the unique features of the social media ecosystem have made it feasible to support adolescent mental health in more ways than ever before [ 39 ]. Among other benefits, using social media may present opportunities for humor and entertainment, identity formation, and creative expression [ 53 ]. More mobile devices than ever before are in the hands of teenagers, and they are using social media at never-before-seen levels [ 27 ]. This may not come as a surprise given how strongly young people are drawn to digital devices and the affordances they offer, as well as their heightened craving for novelty, social acceptance, and affinity [ 27 ]. Teenagers are interacting with digital technology for longer periods of time, so it is critical to comprehend the effects of this usage and use new technologies to promote teens' mental health and well-being rather than hurt it [ 53 ]. Considering the ongoing public discussion, we should instead emphasize that digital technology is neither good nor bad in and of itself [ 27 ].

One of the most well-known benefits of social media is social connection; 81% of students say it boosts their sense of connectedness to others. Connecting with friends and family is usually cited by teenagers as the main benefit of social media, and prior research typically supports the notion that doing so improves people's well-being. Social media can be used to increase acceptance or a feeling of community by providing adolescents with opportunities to connect with others who share their interests, beliefs, and experiences [ 29 ]. Digital media has the potential to improve adolescent mental health in a variety of ways, including cutting-edge applications in medical screening, treatment, and prevention [ 28 ]. In terms of screening, past research has suggested that perusing social media pages for signs of melancholy or drug abuse may be viable. More advanced machine-learning approaches have been created to identify mental disease signs on social media, such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidality. Self-report measures are used in most studies currently conducted on adolescent media intake. It is impossible to draw firm conclusions on whether media use precedes and predicts negative effects on mental health because research has only been conducted once. Adults frequently blame the media for the problems that younger generations face [ 30 ]. Because they are cyclical, media panics should not just be attributed to the novel and the unknown. Teenagers' time management, worldview, and social interactions have quickly and dramatically changed as a result of technology. Social media offers a previously unheard-of opportunity to spread awareness of mental health difficulties, and social media-based health promotion programs have been tested for a range of cognitive and behavioral health conditions. Thanks to social media's instant accessibility, extensive possibilities, and ability to reach remote areas, young people with mental health issues have exciting therapy options [ 54 ]. Preliminary data indicate that youth-focused mental health mobile applications are acceptable, but further research is needed to assess their usefulness and effectiveness. Youth now face new opportunities and problems as a result of the growing significance of digital media in their life. An expanding corpus of research suggests that teenagers' use of social media may have an impact on their mental health. But more research is needed [ 18 ] considering how swiftly the digital media landscape is changing.

Conclusions

In the digital era, people efficiently employ technology; it does not "happen" to them. Studies show that the average kid will not be harmed by using digital technology, but that does not mean there are no situations where it could. In this study, we discovered a connection between social media use and adolescent depression. Since cross-sectional research represents the majority, longitudinal studies are required. The social and personal life of young people is heavily influenced by social media. Based on incomplete and contradictory knowledge on young people and digital technology, professional organizations provide guidance to parents, educators, and institutions. If new technologies are necessary to promote social interaction or develop digital and relational (digitally mediated) skills for growing economies, policies restricting teen access to them may be ineffective. The research on the impact of social media on mental health is still in its early stages, and more research is needed before we can make definitive recommendations for parents, educators, or institutions. Reaching young people during times of need and when assistance is required is crucial for their health. The availability of various friendships and services may improve the well-being of teenagers.

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.