Teens are using social media to diagnose themselves with ADHD, autism and more. Parents are alarmed by the trend.

A growing number of teens are turning to social platforms such as Instagram and TikTok for guidance, resources and support for their mental health. Some teens start to follow creators who discuss their own mental health conditions, symptoms and treatments. Dr. Larry Mitnaul, a child and adolescent psychiatrist in Wichita, Kansas, said he’s seen an alarming number of teenagers self-diagnosing from social media posts. He said the most popular self- Diagnoses he’s encountering among teenagers are ADHD, autism spectrum disorder and dissociative identity disorder, or multiple personality disorder.. Some parents said social media has helped their teens get mental health information they’ve needed and has helped them feel less alone. However, many parents and experts expressed concerns over how self- diagnosis could exacerbate teens’ behaviors, make them feel isolated and be counterproductive in getting them the help they need. In a worst case scenario, teens could set themselves on a path to receiving medication for a condition they do not have. Developing a non-Mislabeling diagnosis can be harmful, Dr. Mitnaull said. It can also put parents in an impossible position, and finding help isn’t always easy, he said. But it doesn’t necessarily mean they have a rare mood disorder that has fairly intense consequences, and an inaccurate sense of who they are doesn’t always mean they are needlessly isolated, Mitn Aull said, adding that it can be hard to convince a teen they don’t have the condition they think they have. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or see www.samaritans.org for details. In the U.S., call the National Suicide prevention Lifeline on 1-877-847-7255 or go to www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org. If you or a family member have contemplated suicide, or have contemplated doing so, contact the National Institutes of Health on 1 (800) 273-TALK (8255) or visit http://www.suicidesprevention.org/. For confidential. support on suicide matters in the United States, go to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) on 1(800) 515-7457. For support in the UK, call 08457 909090 or visit the National suicide prevention helpline on 1-(800) 709090. For more information on suicide prevention, visit the NIMH website or the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) on http:// www.nhs.org/on-suicide/suicide-prevention/prevention-and-revention/prepare-for-the-next-episode/preparedness/pre-emptive-care-by-planning/previous-care/treatment/preparation-of-mental-health.