"On Autopilot": A Thematic analysis of psychological distress in social media posts

Abstract

Individuals often experience psychological distress, but its prevalence and severity are often underreported and hence underestimated by mental healthcare providers. Inadequate expression especially among men often results in worse mental health outcomes. Therefore, this study explored the online discourse around psychological distress among mainstream population's experiences and perceptions. The qualitative study analysed 1,078 relevant responses to a post from X (formerly Twitter) over a 1-month period. Thematic analysis revealed three major themes related to psychological distress: (1) despair, (2) triggers, and (3) getting by. The findings reveal that social media provides an avenue for expression of psychological distress, and hence the need for mental healthcare providers to tap into emerging technology for localised understandings of the framing, nature and causes of psychological distress to enable formal diagnosis and management. Additionally, the study points to the existing correlation between material wellbeing and psychological distress.