Mental Health Romanisation: Birthed by Social Media or a Shadow Waiting to Emerge?


In the last few years, it has seemed like the internet has given birth to a culture of mental health romanization. Now whether you have seen this on tumblr, Instagram or now TikTok, it does seem rather strange. Because in recent years there has been so much success by those speaking out to reduce the stigma associated with mental health. While it is fair to judge that many of these people, would have had close experiences with mental health themselves. Yet there has been a significant, maybe unconscious, movement in the other direction, generally by those also likely to have experienced it. ‘But does this not at least mean that it will get more people talking? Not to mention “Increased awareness!” ‘ Maybe, but it is going to be completely counterintuitive when it is the wrong kind! But there is bound to be a reason for it…