From the COVVI-19 pandemic, mental health has become a major health concern. So much so that everyone shares their “tips” against depression or anxiety. But can we really trust it?
Mental health: half of the “Tiktok tips” are problematic
To be clear, The Guardian analyzed the hundred most popular English-speaking videos published with the keyword #mentalhealthtips on Tiktok. Result: more than half (52 content) of these videos can be problematic, according to the survey carried out in collaboration with doctors and psychologists. Some broadcast questionable advice, but the majority are simply qualified as “waves” or “useless”, sometimes even counterproductive for spectators in real suffering.
Questioned by the British daily newspaper, the psychologist Amber Johnston, specialist in post-traumatic stress syndrome (SSPT), criticizes this excessive simplification. “”Each video suggests that everyone (…) has similar symptoms, easily explained in thirty seconds. In reality, the SSPTs (…) require the intervention of a trained and accredited medical professional to help a person to understand his own individual scheme “.
These shortcuts published on social networks, although attractive, can be harmful. “Tiktok disinforme by suggesting that there are universal secret tips. (They) can, in reality, make the spectator feels even worse: he can feel in check when the tips in question do not heal him” she still denounces.
Four types of drifts identified
Among the drifts identified, the Guardian classifies the problematic content in four main categories:
- Emotions wrongly interpreted as diagnosed disorders;
- An overexposure of personal testimonies to the detriment of the facts;
- The inappropriate use of medical terms;
- Unabved or poorly adapted techniques (forced crying, newspaper, breathing, etc.)
Faced with the accusations of the Guardian, Tiktok reacted strongly, denouncing the “limits” of the “methodology” used by journalists. The social network believes that prohibiting these videos would come back to “oppose freedom of expression“, arguing that it is legitimate to”Share your individual stories“On the platform.
But it is precisely this vagueness between personal testimony and medical advice that alarms the experts. Mickaël Worms-Ehrminger, doctor of public health, explained in a previous article published on True Medical: “On professional or entertainment networks, a lot of people claim to be able to treat mental health problems by offering treatments such as structured psychotherapy, without having any training. “
According to him, “We can say ourselves “Psy-Coach”, “Psy-Conseil” … It does not fall under the law, but creates a lot of confusion“Because these terms”suggest that there is a legitimate relationship to psychology“.
A phenomenon that is not new to yesterday …
In the United States already, the Plushcare platform had conducted a similar study in 2022. Of 500 videos analyzed with the hashtags #mentalhealthtips and #mentalhealthadvice, the results were already disturbing:
- 83.7 % of the advice is deemed misleading;
- 31 % contain inaccurate information;
- 14 % convey potentially dangerous content;
- And only 9 % of creators are really qualified.
The study also points to the economic reasons that push young people to these videos: too high cost of consultations, too long waiting times, lack of access to psychological care … and the phenomenon meets a deep need: 63 % of adolescents believe Importing access to this online information.
Teens on the front line, faced with unregulated content
The stake is therefore topical because for many young people, Tiktok is much more than a social network: it is the main source of health information. According to the Pew Research Center, in 2025 34 % of teenagers aged 13 to 17 are actively looking for mental health content on networks, and 9 % do it regularly.
If this seems to be missing in the United Kingdom, in France, remember that a device has existed since 2022, to supervise access to mental health care: my psychiatric support. It allows you to consult a psychologist with reimbursement of consultations by health insurance. Since its creation, more than half a million people have already benefited.
Let’s talk about mental health! Teddy Rine, Sponsor of the great national cause 2025
The government has chosen Teddy Riner as a sponsor of the great national cause 2025, devoted to mental health. This mobilization aims to strengthen prevention, improve access to care and break taboos around mental disorders. The judoka, triple Olympic champion and eleven times world champion, puts his personal experience at the service of the cause. “”My mental health is the element that made all the difference throughout my career“He confides.”I was one of the first athletes to be followed by a psychologist from the age of 14 at INSEP“. His goal: to encourage everyone to release speech, because the word” shrink “is still too stigmatized according to him.”It’s time to soften words to change the eyes“He pleads.
The big cause is based on four axes: fighting stigma, strengthening prevention, improving access to care everywhere, and supporting people in all aspects of their daily lives. And it starts this Tuesday, June 3, with a special program on France 2 entitled “Better in my head: let’s talk about mental health” which will officially launch the campaign, followed by a national communication plan around six verbs: daring, recognizing, confiding, accompany, listen, consult. A TV spot entitled “Also move for your mental health”, broadcast during Roland-Garros, will also recall the benefits of sport on psychic balance. Finally, the approach will be extended in the field, especially during the We Love Green festival, in a space dedicated to exchange with the public and young people. “”I have to speak for those who need it“Concludes Teddy Riner.