One in five social network conversations focus on ‘negative’

ONE in five conversations on social networks in Ireland are negative and include disclosures of suicidal behaviour, discussion of suicide attempts, jokes and derogatory comments.

A new study reveals even where responses to disclosures of mental health problems were positive, only four out of 10 people were directed to relevant support services.

The first-ever online analysis of conversations about mental health problems was commissioned by See Change, a national partnership working to end the stigma of mental health problems in Ireland.

Its chief executive John Saunders said the study demonstrated the need for Make a Ripple — their latest campaign to encourage people to share their experiences of mental health problems.

“For too long, mental health problems in Ireland have been shrouded in silence, discussed in whispered tones and hidden from friends, colleagues and family members,” said Mr Saunders, at the launch of the campaign in Dublin last night.

He said the campaign was designed to create a “ripple effect” that will help build public understanding that mental health problems can affect anyone and that recovery was absolutely possible.

The online survey looked at Twitter, message boards, blogs and other forums over a three-month period.

It found an average of 81 online conversations about mental health were occurring in Ireland every day.

See Change said it was “very surprised” that nine out of 10 of the participants engaging in online conversations were male, as they had not expected the figure to be so high.

At the launch was Barbara Brennan from Ashbourne, Co Meath, who believed her life would have been very different if she had sought help earlier.

Ms Brennan, who has bipolar disorder and attempted suicide, said the stigma that surrounds mental health stopped people coming forward for help and destroys lives, families, careers and communities.

“Today, I am healthy. I am well. I am very much alive. I bought my first house with my fiance last year and we just got married last month,” said Ms Brennan, who is two years off medication.

“If I had not been so frightened of what was happening to me, had I gone for help earlier, had I understood how much I actually could do for myself... my mind boggles at how different my life would have been,” she said.

* Make a Ripple is encouraging people to go to www.seechange.ie and share their story about mental health problems in a safe and supportive place.