As 2022 rolls in, I believe we should all attempt to break the stigma surrounding mental health. I wanted to discuss the emergence of technology and social media, surely a place for connection, but when does it go too far?
To get a sense of what our teachers warned us about in middle school, I spoke with Laura Hicks, a former branch manager of several Credit Union branches across Nova Scotia, who has experience in hiring and firing applicants based on their behaviour on social media. She has also spoken at several NSCC business seminars that educate students on proper social media usage for professional people.
When speaking about employers who are checking social media, Hicks said: “I have done that, and look at how many people have gotten in trouble for what they said 10 years ago. You need to watch what you say, things will come back to haunt you.”
Hicks belongs to a different generation, one that did not have the ability to share whatever was on the mind at the drop of a hat. “In my day, you kept things private,” she said.
“It is important to be really careful about what you put out there,” she added.
While writing this article, I have wrestled with these issues and wanted to sound anything but patronising or hypocritical. I too am guilty of oversharing on the internet simply because ‘that’s what everyone else is doing.’
This topic is important to me since many contemplate how much of their lives can be shared on the internet without it being a regret in a few years time. I don’t want to see anyone I know lose a job or an opportunity because they were not careful about their digital footprint.
Note – the question about whether or not employers should be able to seek us out on social media is another complex debate to tackle, but regardless, it is simply the reality.
I agree that you should not bottle up all of your feelings, but is the internet the best place to share your inner turmoil? The better course of action is to seek help. I understand that for many students, seeking a private practice mental health service is not budget-friendly, so I have included some free alternatives at the bottom of this article.
No one likes seeing a highlight reel of the lives of others, but we, as humans, are not built for thousands of complete strangers to judge us based on our mistakes. We must then go on “the quest for a happy medium.”
That sounds like a load of crap, I know. What I am trying to say is that we should be able to be our true selves online. However, we need to be careful about which details we share from our personal lives. Strangers only know what you show them, and therefore cannot give you real advice on the problems you’re having. They can only judge you. That is not what anyone deserves when they are vulnerable.
If you are in need of help, please ask for it. The first conversation is the hardest. After that it gets easier.
Resources:
The Provincial Mental Health & Addictions Crisis Line: 1-888-429-8167
Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
Dalhousie Mental Health Same-day Counselling
Phone: 902-494-2171
Click here to book an online appointment: https://patient.medeohealth.com/booking/dalhousie-student-health-services/any