Before the rise of social media, public understanding of mental health was rudimentary at best. Anyone showing signs of distress was often lumped under the vague label of “mentally challenged” and presumed to need institutionalisation, thinking this could cure depression, anxiety or trauma. There was little awareness of the vast spectrum of mental health conditions, let alone their unique causes or appropriate responses.
Take anger management, for example. Some individuals genuinely struggle with controlling their emotions, leading them to lash out and often regretting it later. Now, instead of addressing the root causes, we are quick to say, “He or she just has a short temper” as though emotional instability is a quirky personality trait.
Others suffer from anxiety or specific phobias, yet society often brushes them off with helpful advice like “Just stop worrying”, which is about as useful as telling someone with a broken leg to “just walk it off”. This dismissal is done by either the individuals experiencing them or those around them.
Intellectual disabilities are similarly misunderstood. These are not signs of laziness or lack of willpower, but serious neurodevelopmental disorders affecting learning, problem-solving and even simple daily tasks such as social interaction. But hey, we are in a society that labels a struggling student as “slow” and moves on. Is this normal?
Social media, hailed as the modern agora, has magnified these issues. Cyberbullying is rampant on these platforms.
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While it has given a voice to the voiceless, it has also equipped bullies with keyboards and anonymity. People who share their mental health journeys are often met not with support, but with a chorus of “Clout chaser!” or “Here we go again, another attention seeker”.
When someone posts about their struggles, maybe a public figure going through a divorce, the comments range from mockery to outright abuse such as: “Maybe if she focused more on her marriage than ABC, she would still have a husband!” “Get over it”.
The same crowd that cried when a celebrity took their own life will laugh at a local artist posting about depression. The irony? Profound.
Let us not forget the political scene. When a candidate loses an election, memes flood the timeline faster than election results and social media becomes a battleground for ridicule. You would think losing an election causes more shame than robbing a bank.
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The same occurs in sports, like football, netball, etc. whereby, when a team concedes goals, the backlash on social media platforms can be merciless. Such commentary is not just “banter”. It chips away at people’s dignity, self-esteem and mental stability. The same athlete you mock online may later face panic attacks before a match, or worse, quit entirely.
Those on the receiving end of this digital venom often spiral into emotional turmoil, haunted by betrayal and isolation.
Depression takes hold, anxiety deepens and, in some tragic cases, suicidal thoughts emerge. But, of course, social media users will then post “Check on your strong friends”, with a crying emoji, before resuming their keyboard warfare.
We must do better. Social media should educate, empower and inspire not erode mental well-being under the guise of “just joking”.
Empathy is not outdated. Compassion is not uncool. And kindness? It is still free.
We can, and must, do better.
