Navigating mental health misinformation online

For many people, the internet is the first place they turn when they want to make sense of their feelings. It can help you to connect with others, see that you’re not alone and find the support you need. But there’s a lot of information online, and not all of it is trustworthy – especially when it comes to mental health. A 2025 study by ReachOut found that 80 per cent of the young people surveyed have come across misleading or harmful information about mental health online. 

Here’s our guide to what misinformation and disinformation are, how they can affect your wellbeing, and how you can protect your mental health when looking for reliable support.

This article covers:

• What is misinformation and disinformation?

• Why are misinformation and disinformation harmful to your wellbeing?

• Six red flags to watch out for

• How to check if mental health information is accurate

• Other ways to protect yourself online

What is misinformation and disinformation?

Both of these terms mean wrong or misleading information, but the key difference is the intent behind it.

• Misinformation is when someone shares something that’s wrong without meaning to – they might not have checked if it’s reliable, or they may not have understood what they were doing.

• Disinformation is when someone deliberately shares false information to trick or mislead people.

Common examples of misinformation and disinformation you might come across include:

• promises of ‘quick fixes’ for complex issues like depression or anxiety

• quizzes that claim to diagnose you after a few basic questions

• misuse of mental health terms (e.g. describing everyday stress as ‘trauma’)

• fake accounts pretending to be mental health professionals

• personal stories shared as if they’re scientific facts

• quotes, statistics or research that are made up or taken completely out of context.

A 2025 investigation by The Guardian revealed that over half of the top mental health advice on TikTok was misinformation, often promoting treatments or strategies without any medical proof.

Why are misinformation and disinformation harmful to your wellbeing?

Believing inaccurate information about your mental health can have serious impacts. For example, it might lead you to:

• downplay your symptoms and not ask for help

• delay or avoid getting a diagnosis or therapy from a professional

• try things that either don’t help or make you feel worse (especially if it involves diet, sleep or medication)

• lose trust in legitimate health experts and organisations

• feel confused, drained or anxious

• experience guilt over not doing enough to ‘fix’ yourself.

Sometimes, this false information targets specific groups of people, like the LGBTQIA+ community or people from diverse cultural backgrounds. It might push harmful stereotypes, such as claiming that asking for help is a sign of weakness, or dismissing real struggles as attention-seeking. This can make people who are already vulnerable feel even more isolated. 

Here's what one young person told us about their experience:

Six red flags to watch out for

Building up your critical thinking skills is your best defence against misleading content. If you notice any of the following red flags, take a moment and do some digging before you go along with whatever they’re saying.

No relevant credentials

Are they a qualified mental health professional (like a licensed psychologist or counsellor) or a trusted organisation? Watch out for anonymous accounts or content creators whose primary job isn't health-related. Personal stories can be valuable, but they are not medical facts.

No scientific proof

Do they mention real data and quote experts, or are they simply sharing their own opinion and story? Be especially wary if they dismiss relevant science without giving a valid reason.

They’re offering a ‘quick fix’

Real progress takes time and effort, and what helps someone else might not help you. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. 

They’re selling something

Is there a product or a course they want you to buy? If their income depends on gaining your trust, their advice could be biased.

They’re trying to provoke a strong reaction

If they use extreme language to make you feel panicked, angry or afraid (think: ‘Big Pharma is hiding the real cure!’), they might be after a kneejerk response for engagement, or they may want you to share their content without thinking it through.

They’re overconfident and dismissive of criticism

Do they claim to be the only source of truth and shut down any criticism? Real science is open to discussion and accepts that mental health is complex.

Here’s what one young person told us about the types of misinformation they saw online:

How to check if mental health information is accurate

Use the SIFT method

SIFT is a simple, four-step fact-checking process from digital literacy expert Mike Caulfield.

1. STOP. Before you react, take a moment. Our immediate, gut reactions can sometimes lead us astray.

2. INVESTIGATE the source. Who is saying this? Are they qualified? Do they have any reason to mislead you, like financial gain or a political agenda?

3. FIND better coverage. Look for other trusted sources who say the same thing. If it’s just one person’s opinion, be careful.

4. TRACE the claim back. Go to the source of any statistics, claims or quotes to check that they haven’t been altered or taken out of context.

Other ways to protect yourself online

• Don’t spread information you’re unsure about. Liking, commenting or sharing something, even if you disagree with it, boosts its visibility in the algorithm. Unfollow or block the source and report it if you can.

• Clean up your feed. Follow verified mental health professionals and organisations to make sure you’re getting reliable info.

• Check your own biases. It’s natural to want to believe things that confirm what we already think (this is called confirmation bias), but be open to different ideas and perspectives.

• Take breaks from screens. Constantly being online, especially if you’re seeing a lot of intense content, can wear down your defences. Try to limit your scrolling and make time for offline activities that help you to recharge. Check out our guide to 5 ways to tame your social media use.

• Talk to a trusted person in your life. A friend, family member or teacher can help you to process any confusion and figure out what works for you. Learn more about reaching out to someone you trust.

• Chat with a mental health professional. If you're unsure or worried about something, a trained mental health service provider can help you to sort fact from fiction and get you on the right track. If you’re aged 16–25, you can chat anonymously for free with a peer worker through ReachOut PeerChat.