Social media can help in recovery – but are mental health practitioners up to speed?
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to raise mental health practitioner awareness of the opportunities and risks afforded by social media in day-to-day practice.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper provides case studies of people experiencing mental health problems who are using social media as part of their recovery, to live well and to challenge stigma.
Findings
It was found that, whilst there are risks, many people are using social media for peer support, shared learning and to decrease isolation.
Practical implications
It is argued that mental health practitioners will increasingly need to have an understanding of social media so they can offer support to people they care for in their online as well as offline lives. As the use of social media expands, this will become increasingly important. Social implications – the paper has implications for practice and policy for both mental health.
Originality/value
For the first time, the paper pulls together lived experience of social media from people with mental health problems and make recommendations for practitioners. The paper will be valuable to people experiencing mental health problems, practitioners, health and social care organisations and policy makers.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank all the people who kindly gave their time in sharing their experiences for case studies.
Citation
Betton, V. and Tomlinson, V. (2013), "Social media can help in recovery – but are mental health practitioners up to speed?", Mental Health and Social Inclusion, Vol. 17 No. 4, pp. 215-219. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-06-2013-0021
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited