Over 50% Of Mental Health TikToks Contain Misinformation

TikTok might be Gen Z’s favourite place to cry-laugh at memes and learn how to make 3-ingredient pasta, but when it comes to mental health advice? You might want to pause before taking that tip about eating oranges in the shower to reduce anxiety.

A Guardian investigation has found that more than half of the top 100 TikToks under the hashtag #mentalhealthtips contain misinformation. That’s right – the same app where users go to find solace is also spreading half-truths, sketchy advice, and pseudo-psychology dressed up as therapeutic gospel.

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To get a clearer picture, The Guardian enlisted psychologists, psychiatrists and academics to review the top 100 trending videos. The verdict? 52 out of 100 featured inaccurate or misleading information, from “trauma healing in under an hour” to supplement shilling (hello, magnesium glycinate and holy basil) with barely a sliver of scientific backing.

“There’s honesty in lived experience,” said Dr David Okai, consultant neuropsychiatrist and researcher at King’s College London, “but many posts misused terms like ‘anxiety’ or ‘mental disorder’ interchangeably, which can lead to confusion about what mental illness actually entails.” He added that TikTok’s snackable content often prioritises dramatic soundbites over nuanced, evidence-based support.

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Some videos also pathologised completely normal emotions, said Dr Dan Poulter, a former health minister and NHS psychiatrist. “It suggests that everyday experiences equate to serious mental illness,” he warned, which could be deeply misleading – and even trivialising – for those genuinely suffering.

Dr Amber Johnston, an accredited psychologist with the British Psychological Society, reviewed trauma-related content and wasn’t impressed. “Each video is guilty of suggesting that everyone has the same experience of PTSD,” she said. “The truth is, PTSD is complex and deeply individual – not something to be reduced to a 30-second reel.”

Unsurprisingly, UK MPs have called for tougher regulation. Chi Onwurah MP, who chairs a tech committee, said the findings raise “significant concerns” about whether the Online Safety Act is doing enough to tackle algorithm-driven misinformation. Fellow MPs Victoria Collins and Paulette Hamilton agreed that misleading mental health content could do real harm – especially when it drowns out legitimate medical guidance.

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TikTok, in response, defended its platform. “TikTok is a place where millions express themselves and find supportive communities,” a spokesperson said. They noted that 98% of harmful misinformation is removed before it’s reported and that TikTok works with the NHS and WHO to promote reliable content.

Still, mental health experts stress one thing: real help requires real professionals. No filter, no algorithm, and definitely no saffron supplement can replace qualified, evidence-based support.