Pinterest is doing more than just helping you create a mason jar herb garden; the online community is helping people cope with their depression.
How do you define depression? For me, it’s a state of pure loneliness and misery where the sufferer doesn’t have the energy to see or do anything worthwhile anymore. When a person feels that way, the problem can lead to self-harm or, in extreme cases, suicide, which is why depression must be dealt with properly and accordingly. Who knew that Pinterest could actually be the site to do that?
Read how people are using the online community to cope with mental illness:
People Are Using Pinterest To Talk Honestly About Their Depression
Pinterest isn’t just for finding your next DIY craft. The site now has its own thriving mental illness-focused community where those suffering from depression can seek the advice and solace of supporters and survivors.
While social media has its downsides, we cannot ignore the fact that many people suffering with mental illness only feel comfortable enough to talk about their experiences in a virtual space. Pinterest has become that virtual space. While the rate of those suffering from the illness is alarming, learning about depression through first-hand experiences is inspiring.
This comes at a time when more studies are urging medical experts to take to social media to explore, in depth, the symptoms and experiences of mental illness in the community. Most of those who suffer from depression probably won’t go to a psychotherapist or psychologist for various reasons, be it financial or personal, so turning to online forums where they can express themselves is currently the best way to gather information that can be used to treat the illness.
Now that we know online communities have become the new space in expressing one’s feelings and thoughts, we only hope that more attention will be directed to these communities and people will receive the help they need to battle an illness that affects more than 350 million people in the world.
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