📄 Abstract
Mental health discourse on social media serves as a vital platform for individuals to express their experiences and seek support. In educational settings, it is crucial for teachers and students to comprehend these discussions to foster understanding and empathy. This qualitative research employed Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) to investigate mental health-related posts on social media platforms, specifically focusing on user-generated content from Facebook and Reddit. Through purposive sampling, a corpus of 51 posts was analyzed to uncover common linguistic features and themes. The findings revealed three key themes regarding linguistic characteristics: the use of emotionally charged language, the prevalence of first-person pronouns, and the expression of self-criticism and hopelessness. Additionally, the analysis identified themes related to the pursuit of emotional support, expressions of distress, and the need for validation. These findings highlight the significant role of language in shaping mental health narratives within digital spaces. It is recommended that society acknowledges the importance of mental health discourse on social media to promote awareness, understanding, and support for individuals facing mental health challenges. Educators and mental health professionals are encouraged to engage with these discussions to foster a more inclusive and empathetic environment, ultimately contributing to the destigmatization of mental health issues. Efforts to enhance communication strategies surrounding mental health in educational contexts are also advocated, ensuring that the voices of those affected are heard and respected.
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📚 How to Cite:
Cymon George A. Torres, Onorio P. Cagoco. MAEd , CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS ON MENTAL HEALTH-RELATED POSTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA , Volume 11 , Issue 1, january 2025, EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) ,