Navigating Mental Health in the Digital Age: Insights From Young Samoans and Their Communities

Abstract

The impact of social media on young people's mental health is a growing concern, particularly in Samoa, where the popularity of digital media has skyrocketed, and cultural shifts have been profound. Over the last decade, social media has transformed the social and cultural landscape of Samoa, exacerbating mental health challenges and contributing to alarming suicide rates. Historically, Samoa has faced a high per capita suicide rate, notably among young females aged 15 to 24. Samoa’s suicide rates continue to increase each year with youth being at the forefront of this number. The purpose of this research is to explore how youth in Samoa navigate the relationship between mental health and social media within the context of Samoan culture. It also aims to examine the opportunities and challenges the digital age brings for youth and their mental health. My interest in this topic emerged as I was attending school in Samoa as a teenager and witnessed the mental health stigma in Samoan society as well as observed the growing effects of social media on myself and my peers. I established the research questions: ‘In what way do young Samoans and Mental Health Professionals conceptualise and encounter mental health in the context of the social media age?’ And ‘What challenges and opportunities exist in addressing mental health issues and help-seeking behaviour for this demographic?’ To address this question, the Fonofale Model and Talanoa method were utilised to gather data from two groups of participants 1) Youth aged 18-25 and 2) Mental Health Professionals. Both groups had a requirement of lived experience in the Samoan context. From each individual experience shared by participants, thematic analysis was used, and five themes were identified. The key themes were: 1) Samoan Societal Norms Contributing to Stigma, 2) Elder Generational Perspectives on Mental Health, 3) Younger Generational Perspectives on Mental Health, 4) The Impact of Social Media on Youth Mental Health, and 5) Mental Health Services in Samoa and Youth Help-seeking Behaviour. Each theme explores different aspects of mental health perceptions, stigma, and the influence of social media and service accessibility on youth help-seeking behaviour. This study reveals that, despite the negative view of social media's impact, it plays a crucial role in raising mental health awareness and facilitating open discussions among young Samoans. The generational divide is evident, with younger individuals leveraging social media to challenge traditional mental health stigmas, while the elder generation remains sceptical. However, the reluctance to seek help from conventional mental health services, coupled with the lack of early intervention, has led youth to rely on social media for support and information. This shift highlights both the opportunities and challenges social media presents in shaping mental health perceptions and behaviours in Samoa.