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Qualitative analysis of UK and USA open mental health Facebook groups for mental health support (Preprint)


 BACKGROUND
 Facebook is still the most popular social networking site in the world. A growing number of people with mental health issues are using open Facebook groups as a source of informational and emotional support, and to provide peer support to others with mental illness. Facebook groups specifically tailored for mental health can provide a safe, less stigmatised environment for people to share their personal experiences with others who understand, and gain information and advice from those with similar experiences. The peer support people gain from other group members can reduce feelings of isolation, helping them feel more connected and less alone.
 
 
 OBJECTIVE
 The aim of the research was to gain an understanding of how people use open Facebook groups for their emotional and mental health needs, and to gain an insight into how they support each other through these groups. Specifically, the study explored the ways people in the UK and USA interact via open Facebook mental health groups about mental health issues, and how they sought, provided and received the support.
 
 
 METHODS
 A systematic search of all mental health related open Facebook groups was conducted in January 2016 using mental health related keywords, which yielded a total of 158 groups. Only groups that had an administrator that was clearly based in the UK or USA, and displayed group member engagement through comments and posts were considered for analysis. This resulted in 14 UK Facebook groups and 11 USA Facebook groups appropriate for analysis. All posts over a three-month period were copied and pasted for analysis. The resulting data set consisted of 1,901 pages of UK Facebook posts and comments, and 1,900 pages of USA Facebook posts and comments. Thematic analysis was conducted to extract key themes from the data set using NVivo software
 
 
 RESULTS
 Findings support the literature that general online support is beneficial to those with mental illness. Using open Facebook groups specifically can provide people with informational and emotional support for their mental illness, increasing the perceived level of social support. Additionally, online support from Facebook groups can increase feelings of connectedness, reduce feelings of isolation, and provide a platform for comparison of perspectives relating to their own experiences. Furthermore, group membership may offer hope and increase feelings of empowerment in those using Facebook as a support mechanism for their mental illness.
 
 
 CONCLUSIONS
 This study adds to the current growing body of research examining how people with mental illness use open Facebook groups specifically to seek and provide emotional and informational support online. The study highlights the positive impact of shared personal experiences, and offers a greater understanding of the benefits of online peer support in relation to their mental health and wellbeing. Furthermore, it poses questions for group administrators and health professionals relating to their utilisation and moderation of such open Facebook mental health groups.
