The phenomena of “inflation” and “romanticization” of mental health issues in the contemporary era call for heightened vigilance across society. Photo: TUCHONG

At present, mental health problems are becoming increasingly widespread, severe, and prevalent among younger populations—an undeniable fact. Yet are the cold figures of “incidence rates” or “detection rates” truly accurate, trustworthy, and reliable? Not necessarily. At the very least, the phenomena of “inflation” and “romanticization” of mental health issues in the contemporary era call for heightened vigilance across society.

Manifestations of ‘inflation’ and ‘romanticization’

Over the past decade, countries worldwide have invested considerable effort in raising public awareness of mental health. These efforts have indeed yielded progress: Stigma has been reduced, mental health literacy has improved, and willingness to seek help has grown. Yet over this same period, the incidence of mental health problems (including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and self-harm) has not declined; instead, it has risen and remained stubbornly high. This appears paradoxical.

Some researchers argue that efforts to raise awareness may themselves be a contributing factor to the apparent increase in mental health problems. Greater detection of such issues fuels further awareness campaigns, while heightened awareness can in turn lead to more frequent reporting and experience of symptoms. The relationship between these processes is bidirectional. Researchers have termed this the “prevalence inflation hypothesis” of mental health problems. According to this hypothesis, awareness efforts reduce stigma, improve literacy, and allow previously overlooked symptoms to be more accurately reported—an undeniably beneficial outcome. Raising awareness should therefore remain a long-term goal of mental health promotion.

Regrettably, however, awareness initiatives also lead some individuals to interpret and report relatively mild distress as mental health problems. Once a person interprets their psychological experiences through the lens of illness and applies that label to themselves, they may—via a self-fulfilling prophecy—begin to act out those symptoms in daily life. For instance, interpreting mild anxiety as a sign of an anxiety disorder may result in avoidance behaviors, thereby exacerbating the anxiety itself. Increased symptom reporting, in turn, spurs further awareness initiatives. These two processes reinforce one another cyclically, through the dual mechanisms of “heightened awareness” and “overinterpretation,” ultimately contributing to the expansion of mental health problems. Clearly, “education”—that is, efforts to raise awareness—is not a panacea; it is more akin to a double-edged sword, with the key lying in striking the right balance.

The “inflation” of mental health problems has also fostered their “romanticization,” a trend particularly pronounced among adolescents. By “romanticization,” I refer to the tendency of young people to perceive and portray psychological problems as more attractive, interesting, stylish, profound, or aspirational than they truly are. In essence, cultural coding transforms pathological traits into social symbols endowed with aesthetic or symbolic value. On social media, one often sees adolescents presenting their psychological distress in “poetic” or even “glamorized” ways—for example, using artistic filters and literary captions to describe sleepless nights, depicting anxiety as “a unique cry of the soul,” or framing depression as a state of “sober clarity amid a drunken crowd.” In doing so, they construct a distinctive “label” out of psychological problems, seeking attention and empathy from others.

In practice, this often manifests as the encouragement or performance of behaviors linked to mental health problems, such as showcasing suffering, engaging in self-injury, or expressing suicidal ideation. Content-wise, issues such as suicidal tendency, self-harm, eating disorders, depression, and anxiety are especially prone to romanticization among adolescents. Yet such romanticization does not reflect genuine recognition or serious engagement with the problems; rather, it represents a distorted self-perception—a misunderstanding and embellishment of the true nature of mental health problems—which can have profoundly negative consequences for healthy growth and development.

Causes and negative consequences of ‘romanticization’

The emergence of this phenomenon has multiple causes. First, it is driven by the search for identity and uniqueness. Adolescents are at a critical stage of self-exploration and identity formation. During this period, they yearn to stand out and carve out a distinctive place within their peer groups. Because mental health problems deviate from the norm, some adolescents believe that by “possessing” and “romanticizing” these issues, they can appear more special. When psychological problems become a frequent topic of discussion within schools or peer circles, some adolescents may exaggerate or even fabricate such problems, presenting them in romanticized ways to fit in with certain groups or highlight their uniqueness. For example, depression may be reconstructed as a marker of “depth of thought,” and anxiety reframed as a “badge of perfectionism,” distorting psychiatric diagnoses into symbols of personal identity.

Second, social media amplifies the effect. Social media plays a crucial role in adolescent life. These platforms are filled with mental health–related content, some of which, in order to attract attention, is exaggerated or romanticized. Prolonged exposure to such content subtly shapes adolescents’ perceptions. Influencers and bloggers may share purported experiences of depression, accompanied by melancholic music and carefully curated visuals, garnering large amounts of approval and attention. Adolescents thus come to see the romanticized expression of psychological problems as an effective strategy for gaining recognition and validation. The rapid dissemination enabled by social media further entrenches this unhealthy trend.

Moreover, adolescents often possess only fragmented or superficial knowledge of mental health. Although society’s concern for mental health is growing, the information young people access is typically partial and decontextualized. They may recognize certain symptoms but lack understanding of the underlying mechanisms and serious consequences. This limited knowledge prevents them from accurately assessing the severity of psychological problems, making them prone to romanticization. When experiencing common emotional fluctuations, such as low mood, they may too readily label themselves “depressed” and interpret or express such states in romanticized terms.

The consequences of romanticization are largely negative. First, it delays treatment for those truly in need. When mental health problems are widely romanticized, genuine cases become harder to identify. Adolescents suffering from actual mental illness may have their calls for help drowned out by a flood of romanticized expressions, leading others to dismiss their distress as mere trend-following or attention-seeking. This can severely delay timely access to professional care, worsen their condition, and, in serious cases, even result in tragedy.

Furthermore, it reinforces negative patterns of thought. For adolescents experiencing only minor psychological fluctuations, romanticization entrenches maladaptive cognition. By habitually viewing their emotional challenges through a romanticized lens, they struggle to objectively analyze underlying causes or adopt constructive coping strategies. They may even become absorbed in the “aestheticized” suffering, sinking deeper into distress, and risk escalating problems that might otherwise have resolved naturally. This is particularly evident in self-injury and eating disorders, where online communities share and spread harmful practices. The behaviors of information consumers are thereby encouraged and reinforced, worsening the severity of their mental health issues.

Finally, it distorts collective understanding of mental health. The romanticization of mental health problems among adolescents reshapes how entire peer groups perceive mental well-being. Mental health ceases to be regarded as a state requiring care and protection, while mental illness is no longer viewed as a condition demanding serious treatment. Such distorted perceptions negatively affect adolescents’ attitudes toward both their own and others’ psychological well-being, undermining the cultivation of a social atmosphere that prioritizes prevention, early intervention, and treatment.

Urgent need to enhance mental health education

To mitigate or eliminate the “inflation” and “romanticization” of mental health problems, it is essential to strengthen both the depth and breadth of mental health education. Schools and families should shoulder the primary responsibility. Schools must integrate mental health education into formal curricula, not only imparting knowledge but also cultivating effective cognition and coping skills. Through systematic coursework, adolescents can gain a comprehensive understanding of the nature, causes, and treatment of psychological problems, thereby avoiding romanticized interpretations born of partial knowledge. Within families, parents should pay close attention to their children’s mental health, establish open channels of communication, and promptly correct misconceptions.

Regulation of social media content is also critical. Platforms should strengthen oversight of mental health–related content and establish strict publishing guidelines: avoiding graphic detail, simplistic attributions, glamorization, celebrity-centered narratives, sensationalist headlines, or the dissemination of misleading notes. Content likely to mislead adolescents should be clearly flagged with warnings. Algorithmic recommendation systems can be leveraged to push more scientific and positive mental health resources, guiding young people toward sound understanding. Platforms can also collaborate with professional institutions to host online mental health education initiatives, raising adolescents’ literacy and awareness.

More importantly, society as a whole must foster an environment that values mental health and approaches psychological problems with objectivity. Websites, posts, and hashtags that romanticize mental health problems should be carefully monitored to prevent their spread. Schools and families should actively track adolescents’ online activity, guiding them to use digital platforms constructively. Media outlets, when reporting on mental health, should adhere to objectivity and scientific accuracy, avoiding exaggeration or misleading phrasing. Literary and artistic works should portray psychological problems authentically and with educational intent. Communities can organize public-awareness campaigns and invite professionals to give lectures and consultations, thereby raising collective understanding and concern.

In sum, the “inflation” and “romanticization” of mental health problems are essentially compensatory mechanisms within systems of meaning. When the real world fails to provide sufficient sources of value, adolescents may sublimate pathological traits into symbolic forms. Resolving this dilemma requires constructing “networks of meaning substitution” that, through cognitive restructuring, emotional re-education, and value re-anchoring, help adolescents achieve self-realization along a healthy trajectory. Genuine growth lies not in aestheticizing suffering, but in confronting life’s rough edges and forging resilience. Through concerted societal effort, we can reshape adolescents’ understanding of mental health, guide them toward accurate recognition and attitudes, instill sound values and a positive mindset, and ultimately support their healthy development, fulfilling lives, and sustainable well-being.

Yu Guoliang is a professor from the Institute of Psychology at Renmin University of China.