After celebrities like Deepika Padukone and Anushka Sharma spoke publically about their mental illnesses, it opened up a dialogue about the otherwise hush-hush topic in India. While normalising mental health issues in India still has a long way to go, people are now more aware and open to seeking treatment.
Research shows that all chronic illnesses have a mental health connection, including diseases like thyroid, diabetes and cancer. Almost everyone deals with a certain amount of stress on a regular basis. And while not everyone needs therapy, they sure can benefit from it. And most importantly–not everyone has access to and can afford therapy. Keeping this in mind, some mental health professionals are taking their knowledge to Instagram and reaching out to Millenials and Gen Z through a medium where they spend a lot of their time.
According to Tanvii Bhandari, Counselling Psychologist at Anchorage Counselling Services, the aim of any therapist is to heal people, and social media gives them a wide audience. “I don’t want to limit myself to just my clients. Over the years, I’ve realised that there are many common issues that people are dealing with. If a post on my Instagram can spark a healthy thought or give someone hope on a dreary day, then I feel like I’ve achieved something,” she said.
However, Tanvii makes it clear that Instagram cannot replace therapy, or help you with your personalised problems. “Posts on Instagram will always remain generic, and therapy is personal and incredibly more effective. With social media, the principle of something is better nothing applies.”
If you’re struggling with your mental health and looking for some positivity on social media, these are the accounts that you should follow.
@millennial.therapist
PhD researcher Sara Kuburić calls herself an ‘existential psychotherapist’ and uses her professional knowledge and experience to reach out to millennials–in the form of bite-sized wisdom. She explores topics like boundaries, personal growth, trust and imposter syndrome, among others.
Click here to follow her on Instagram.
@thebraincoach
This account is run by Nawal Mustafa, a doctoral student in clinical neuropsychology. She uses art and social media to share her knowledge about the subject. She encourages her followers to use her content as a guide to improve their social health, and focuses on issues like anxiety, depression, burn out and low self-worth.
Click here to follow her on Instagram.
@theshrinkwrap
Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) specialist Sheva Rajaee’s own mental health journey led her to become a professional. She got diagnosed with OCD in college, and is now the founder of The Center for Anxiety and OCD in California, United States. She holds a degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and talks extensively about OCD, especially relationship OCD, on her Instagram page.
Click here to follow her on Instagram.
@anchoragecounsellingservices
Anchorage Counselling Services is run by Tanvii Bhandari, and she uses cute illustrations and art to talk about sensitive issues like self-love and personal growth. Make sure you read her detailed captions when you scroll through her feed!
Click here to follow her on Instagram.
@lisaoliveratherapy
Lisa Oliver is a licenced Marriage and Family Therapist based in the United States, and explores issues of self-criticism, doubt, sadness, anxiety, and fear through her Instagram handle.
Click here to follow her on Instagram.
@theanxietyhealer
Alison Seponara is a licensed therapist and mindfulness teacher. She curates her instagram feed with mental health inspiration from around the web, and uses fun graphics and charts that make you think about your mental health.
Click here to follow her on Instagram.
@withawakenintolove
Kiyomi and Alexis are Relationship OCD specialists and coaches who run online courses and manage a community on the topic. Their work has been featured on international websites like Forbes and Thrive, and they use their Instagram page to spread more knowledge and give useful tips on the topic.
Click here to follow them on Instagram.
We hope this list helps your mental well-being in the form of tiny nuggets of therapy. You can also reach out to these therapists if you feel you’re ready for an individual consultation.
Here’s to saying no to the negativity of social media and personalising it to make a positive space.
Featured Image: Shutterstock
