Please Don’t Self-Diagnose Yourself with Mental Health Issues Based on TikTok

You might have watched a TikTok video, thought, “That sounds like me. Do I have this condition?” With more mental health content available online, many teenagers are self-diagnosing with conditions like depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and autism (McVay, 2023). While awareness is important, self-diagnosis can do more harm than good.

One reason for this trend is identity exploration. According to Erikson’s theory, teenagers use platforms like TikTok to experiment with and validate their identity through affirmations. The “For You Page” creates an echo chamber, reinforcing biased beliefs and experiences (Foster & Elis, 2024). They are also likely to listen to their peers and relate to social groups they have viewed on TikTok, such as influencers sharing their mental health experiences, leading them to identify with online communities such as “#ADHD”, which saw 3 million TikTok posts in 2024 (Foster & Elis, 2024).

At the same time, many young people today are more anxious and lonelier, with 72% of 16- to 24-year-old survey respondents reporting social anxiety (Lee, 2025). Social media platforms are replacing face-to-face interactions, pushing young people online to seek answers and comfort. 

Misinformation is another serious concern. More than 83% of mental health advice on TikTok is misleading (Moseley, 2023). Self-diagnosis not only increases anxiety but can lead teenagers to use it as a crutch for undesirable behaviors instead of addressing them or getting unnecessary treatments (Geller, 2023). 

Additionally, barriers such as stigma, limited access to professionals, and financial constraints have made social media platforms an attractive alternative (Moseley, 2023). 

The truth is, mental health diagnoses are complex and should only be made by trained mental health professionals using standardized processes (Moseley, 2023). In Singapore, teenagers can approach mindline.sg for self-help tools and resources, or visit CREST or CHAT for support (Ministry of Health, 2025). 

Understanding our mental health is not about fitting into a label; it’s about getting the right support to feel better.

Writer: Kai Ting

Published: 27/04/2026

References

Foster, A., & Ellis, N. (2024, September 29). TikTok-inspired self-diagnosis and its implications for educational psychology practice. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02667363.2024.2409451

Geller, C. (2023, October 2). Teens, social media, and the trouble with self-diagnosis. University of Utah Health. https://healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/kids-zone/all/2023/10/teens-social-media-and-trouble-self-diagnosis

Lee, L. (2025, August 8). As Ai becomes confidante, counsellor and even partner, what will happen to human relationships?. CNA. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/today/big-read/ai-technology-interpersonal-communication-humans-5282381

McVay, E. (2023, August 31). Social media and Self-Diagnosis. John Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/articles/2023/08/social-media-and-self-diagnosis

Ministry of Health. (2025, August 21). Mental Health Services. Ministry of Health. https://www.moh.gov.sg/seeking-healthcare/find-a-facility-or-service/mental-health-services/

Moseley, L. R. (2023, March 28). A mental health diagnosis takes much more than a scroll through TikTok. HealthCity. https://healthcity.bmc.org/mental-health-diagnosis-takes-much-more-scroll-through-tiktok/