Exploring the barriers and facilitators to discussing social media in primary care for young adults with mental health concerns: a qualitative study

Background Social media is a pervasive part of young peoples’ lives and may influence their mental health. Primary care is often the first point of care when seeking help for mental health problems. However, little is known about how young adults with mental health problems experience and perceive primary care support for managing social media.

Aim To explore young adults’ views on help-seeking for social media use in primary care in relation to mental health problems.

Design & setting Qualitative interview study with 28 young adults aged 18–25 with self-reported mental health problems across England.

Method Semi-structured interviews were analysed thematically to identify barriers and facilitators to help-seeking. Themes were organised using the Theory of Planned Behaviour - attitudes, social norms and perceived behavioural control.

Results Barriers for help-seeking included attitudes that social media was a secondary issue and low expectations of meaningful support; perceived negative attitudes and limited understanding of social media by primary care clinicians, communities and families; and constrained ability to seek help due to limited consultation time and uncertainty around how to seek help. Facilitators included clinicians offering practical strategies, raising the topic non-judgmentally, receiving training to better understand young people’s digital lives, longer appointment times, and clearer information about support in primary care for social media-related concerns.

Conclusion Young adults with mental health concerns face multiple barriers to discussing social media in primary care, shaped by attitudes and structural challenges. Addressing these through clinician training, communication, and service adaptations may enhance engagement and support.