Public Mental Illness Disclosure on Social Media and the Effects on Stigma Toward People With Mental Illness: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Social media has empowered individuals to publicly share their personal experiences, and encountering public mental illness disclosures on these platforms is becoming increasingly common. According to intergroup contact theory, exposure to public mental illness disclosure on social media as a form of indirect contact may reduce mental illness-related stigma. This systematic review aims to explore the effects of social media disclosure on stigmatizing attitudes and behaviors toward people with mental illness in the general public. A systematic literature search of APA PsycInfo and MEDLINE conducted in September 2022 and updated in June 2023 identified 12 eligible studies. These included five data-mining studies, one qualitative interview study, and six experimental studies. Findings showed that exposure to public disclosure on social media was frequently associated with a reduction in stigma, although a few contrary findings were observed. The antistigma effects appeared to vary according to the social media discloser’s identity, the relationship between the discloser and the audience, and the specifics of the message, such as the manifestations of different coping styles and the presence or absence of supportive peer responses. However, further studies using rigorous methodologies are needed in order to examine causal relationships and whether the effects can be sustained over the long term. More robust evidence in this area can inform future efforts to effectively leverage public mental illness disclosure messages on social media to mitigate stigmatizing attitudes and behaviors toward individuals with mental illness.