Who Needs Therapy When There is TikTok: A Qualitative Study on the Mental Health Information Needs on Social Media of Young Adults with Anxiety and Depression.

The number of Dutch young adults experiencing anxiety and depression complaints is growing. Young adults have difficulty seeking professional help and turn to social media for mental health information. This research explores mental health information needs on social media and fulfillment via online short videos (OSVs) of young adults with anxiety and depression complaints. Fifteen semi-structured interviews, 20 to 60 minutes each, are conducted. The interview guide is structured based on theory regarding general social media uses and general health information needs. This research uses a hybrid coding approach and a thematic analysis to analyze the data. The findings indicate that young adults experience emotional and practical benefits from using OSVs as a source of mental health information. For example, multiple types of social support can be found in OSVs, including informational support, esteem support, emotional support, and network support, fulfilling young adults' affective and cognitive needs for mental health information. However, young adults also experience barriers to accessing OSVs as mental health information sources, such as low credibility regarding the perceived usefulness, trustworthiness, and quality of information and possible triggers and dangers. The sample needs more diversity, limiting the generalizability. Therefore, the research suggests using a more diverse sample regarding education level, age, and gender. The findings of this study are of interest to psychologists who want to understand the facilitation and barriers to using OSVs for mental health information on social media and the mental health information needs of young adults. Furthermore, the findings interest policymakers as they provide information on potential risks associated with using social media as a health information source. As a result, policymakers can establish guidelines regarding mental health information on social media to protect young adults.