A leading therapist has warned that excessive social media use is negatively affecting mental health, urging people to manage their screen time to protect their well-being.
Rathika Thivakan, a cognitive behavioural therapist (CBT) at St Andrew’s Healthcare’s Private Therapy service in Northampton, has voiced concerns over the increasing number of people struggling with self-harm, low self-esteem, and body dysmorphia due to social media overuse. She spoke out ahead of Time to Talk Day on Thursday 6 February, an annual initiative aimed at encouraging open conversations about mental health.
“For something that was marketed to bring us all together, it’s remarkable what social media has done to our communities,” she said. “It even has the word ‘social’ in its name, yet it is making us increasingly more antisocial.”
Thivakan highlighted that mobile phones and social media platforms are designed to be addictive, with research suggesting that notifications trigger dopamine releases in the brain. “Most of us admit to relentless scrolling, but there is a price to pay,” she added. “I’m seeing more and more people struggling with self-harm, low self-esteem, and body dysmorphia. If you’re spending hours scrolling through social media, it’s going to eat away at you.”
She is using Time to Talk Day to encourage people to put down their phones and engage in real-life conversations. “Rather than resorting to social media for short-term relief, we should consciously make an effort to engage in activities that improve or even solve our problems in the long run,” she said. “I really think it’s time people start managing their mobile time for the sake of their mental health. Social media and gadget overuse are stripping away normal human interactions with loved ones. In addition, we all need space to sit still and reflect. You need to switch off and give your brain a break.”
Thivakan also warned against falling into the ‘happiness trap’—the illusion that others lead perfect lives, as portrayed on social media. “Social media bombards us with images of perfect people living their best lives. But it’s not real. It’s an unfair comparison,” she explained. “You might be sitting at home, scrolling, not having taken a shower, watching someone portray a seemingly perfect life. And yet, we still engage with it, even though consuming such filtered content only leads to comparisons and despair.”
To support the local community on Time to Talk Day, St Andrew’s Healthcare is offering 10% off a taster CBT session with Thivakan for bookings made before the end of February. Those interested can email therapyclinics@stah.org or call 01604 616050, quoting “Talking@STAH”.
“CBT can help with boosting self-esteem and breaking unhelpful habits, including excessive mobile phone and social media use,” Thivakan added. “I help people recognise that constantly reaching for their phones is just an illusion – it’s a way to procrastinate rather than actively taking time for themselves.”
St Andrew’s Healthcare is a leading mental health charity dedicated to supporting individuals with complex mental health needs. With locations in Northampton, Essex, and Birmingham, as well as specialist residential services in Nottingham and Derby, the organisation provides care for those facing the most challenging mental health conditions.
With one in four people experiencing mental health difficulties and one in 105 receiving a diagnosis classified as severe, Thivakan stresses the urgency of prioritising well-being. “We need to recognise the impact of excessive mobile use on mental health and take steps to reclaim real human connections,” she said.
