Millions of Young People Self-Diagnosing Mental Health Issues, Study Finds

An estimated two million young people in the UK are self-diagnosing mental health conditions without consulting a healthcare professional, according to new research from insurer AXA Health. The study highlights a growing trend of young Britons turning to social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram for guidance on conditions such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, and autism.

The research found that nearly 30 percent of 16 to 24-year-olds have diagnosed themselves with mental health conditions before speaking to a clinician. Among this group, approximately 11 percent attribute their symptoms to neurodiverse conditions, which points to a wider concern about the impact of mental health issues on education, employment, and productivity.

Experts suggest that the surge in self-diagnosis is partly due to limited access to professional mental health services. With both public and private healthcare systems burdened by long waiting lists, many young people feel isolated from timely support. As a result, they are increasingly turning to social media for answers. However, much of the content on these platforms is created by influencers or content creators without medical qualifications, who share personal experiences or symptom lists that can be misleading.

Dr. Will Shield, a psychologist at the University of Exeter, warns that the rise of self-diagnosis through social media can lead to normal emotions being mistaken for serious conditions. “Social media can be incredibly powerful, but it’s rife with misinformation. Without professional insight, young people may misinterpret ordinary feelings as signs of serious conditions,” he said.

While influencers can raise awareness, their stories are often highly individualized and do not account for the variations in how mental health conditions manifest. For example, ADHD can present differently in each person, and interpreting anecdotal experiences without a clinical context can cause unnecessary anxiety, misdiagnosis, and poor self-care decisions.

The AXA Health report also shows that young people are twice as likely to use social media to identify mental health issues as they are to use it for physical ailments, suggesting a troubling reliance on digital platforms for psychological well-being. With the potential economic and social consequences, the findings have prompted calls for improved mental health education, better access to professional services, and stricter regulation of online health content.

To address this growing issue, experts stress the need for young people to be equipped with the tools to distinguish between credible medical information and social media myths. In order to tackle the mental health crisis, it is essential that policymakers, healthcare providers, and employers collaborate to deliver accessible and reliable mental health support.