Internet and social media use in early psychosis: what is the impact on functioning, relapse and self-harm.

Research shows that people living with mental health difficulties use the internet and social media platforms like the general population. However, how people with early-onset psychosis use social media and how they are affected by its use is not clear. For example, the frequency of hospital admissions or self-harm behaviour can be a reliable indicator of relapse and severity of psychosis. Still, we don’t know whether and how social media use may improve or harm mental health outcomes. In this study, we will examine the relationships between internet/social media use and social functioning, self-harm, and rates of hospitalisation.