The benefits and harms of social media use for young adults with common mental health disorders presenting to primary care

Social media use is ubiquitous amongst young adults, but little is understood about the potential benefits and harms. This project seeks to understand some of the benefits, by using a rapid scoping review to explore how social media platforms could encourage young adults with common mental health problems to seek help. It also seeks to understand some of the potential harms of social media and how these can be addressed, by undertaking interviews with primary care clinicians and young adults to explore how the impact of social media on young adults’ mental health should be managed in primary care.

Project objectives and Rational:

1. To understand how social media platforms could encourage young adults with common mental health problems to seek help.
2. To explore with primary care clinicians and young adults (aged 18-25-years old) how should primary care clinicians manage the impact of social media on young adults’ mental health.

UCL - NIHR School of Primary Care Research

University of Bristol – NIHR School of Public Health Research