"Guess I'm not alone": A qualitative exploration of ADHD, mental health, and self-diagnosis comment sections on TikTok

Abstract

Frank discussions of mental health have been observed on social media consistently over decades. The TikTok app ‘pushes’ algorithmically curated video content onto users’ ‘For You Page’; anecdotal evidence and early research indicates that TikTok has influenced discussions of mental health and ADHD, resulting in long NHS waiting lists and a culture of online self-diagnosis. The present study explores how mental health content is discussed by social media users in TikTok comment sections, analysing how people interact with mental health content (and ADHD) online, including perceptions of, and motivations for, self-diagnosis. The TikTok API (the application software for TikTok) was used to source secondary data. An Inductive thematic analysis was conducted on comment sections of videos using the tags #Mentalhealth, #Depression, #Anixety, #Selfdiagnosis, and #ADHD. The analysis generated 6 themes: (1) showing support and empathy towards posters; (2) relatability of content, personal declarations, and experience coherence; (3) indirect and direct cries for help; (4) affirming those that self-diagnose; (5) motivations for avoiding formal diagnosis; (6) negative perceptions of online self-diagnosis. Social media users engaged with the content in a positive way and, whilst self-diagnosis yielded mixed opinions, motivations for self-diagnosis were discussed such as distrust of mental health professionals and perceived stigma. Mental Health content exposure on TikTok can yield positive outcomes, but users should exercise caution when applying relatable content to themselves. Self-diagnosis remains controversial, and future research may elucidate barriers to formal diagnosis which prompt online self-diagnosis.