Mental illness and bipolar disorder on Twitter: implications for stigma and social support. (3rd March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Budenz, Alexandra; Klassen, Ann; Purtle, Jonathan; Yom Tov, Elad; Yudell, Michael; Massey, Philip
• Is Part Of: Journal of mental health. Volume 29:Number 2(2020)
• Page Start: 191
• Page End: 199
• Publication Date: 2020-03-03
• Subjects: Mental health -- social media -- bipolar disorder -- Twitter; Mental health -- Periodicals; Mental health services -- Periodicals; 362.2
• DOI: 10.1080/09638237.2019.1677878
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0963-8237

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Mental illness (MI), and particularly, bipolar disorder (BD), are highly stigmatized. However, it is unknown if this stigma is also represented on social media. Aims: Characterize Twitter-based stigma and social support messaging ("tweets") about mental health/illness (MH)/MI and BD and determine which tweets garnered retweets. Methods: We collected tweets about MH/MI and BD during a three-month period and analyzed tweets from dates with the most tweets ("spikes"), an indicator of topic interest. A sample was manually content analyzed, and the remainder were classified using machine learning (logistic regression) by topic, stigma, and social support messaging. We compared stigma and support toward MH/MI versus BD and used logistic regression to quantify tweet features associated with retweets, to assess tweet reach. Results: Of the 1, 270, 902 tweets analyzed, 94.7% discussed MH/MI and 5.3% discussed BD. Spikes coincided with a celebrity's death and a MH awareness campaign. Although the sample contained more support than stigma messaging, BD tweets contained more stigma and less support than MH/MI tweets. However, stigma messaging was infrequently retweeted, and users often retweeted personal MH experiences. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate opportunities for social media advocacy to reduce stigma and increase displays of social support towards people living with BD.