TikTok and mental health tips: Half of the content is misleading and dangerous to followers.

A recent study indicates that more than half of the mental health advice videos on TikTok contain misleading and inaccurate information.

These videos, rapidly spreading on the platform and created by influencers and activists, promote scientifically unproven methods to enhance mental health, such as saffron, magnesium glycinate, and basil, as well as offering quick and unrealistic solutions for treating psychological trauma and anxiety.

In a review of about 100 popular videos under the mental health hashtag, experts found that 52 of them provide incorrect or vague information about dealing with psychological trauma, anxiety, depression, and acute mental disorders.

Consultant David Ockey from King's College London confirmed that some posts misuse therapeutic language, causing confusion about the reality of mental illness.

Former UK Health Secretary and psychiatrist in the National Health Service, Dan Poulter, explained that some videos portray daily experiences and emotions as serious mental illnesses, while others offer misleading advice that undermines the seriousness of patients suffering from acute mental disorders.

Psychologist Amber Johnston, on the other hand, affirmed that the videos often contain partial truths but exaggerate and oversimplify the complexity of post-traumatic stress disorder and its symptoms.

It is worth noting that TikTok is widely popular among youth and teenagers worldwide, where unsupported medical, psychological, sports, and nutritional advice is shared, increasing the risk of spreading inaccurate information on mental health to the public.