Studies have shown how unpleasant emotions can spread like wildfire on social media, and mental health academics are calling for something to be done before it gets out of hand.
红杏视频 University Department of Psychology head and professor Dr Alvin Ng (pic) said several techniques can be utilised to manage social media consumption and reduce its negative impact including cleaning up your newsfeed.
鈥淏e more mindful of your social media consumption habits. Practise 鈥榞ood social media hygiene鈥 by cleaning up your news feed.
鈥淵ou can control what you choose to see or read and what not to devote your attention to, 鈥 he said.
He also advised social media users to catch themselves when they start 鈥渄oom scrolling鈥 or being continuously fixated on an endless update of unpleasant or bad news.
He suggested creating positivity such as building surroundings that provide you with feelings of safety, security and fun, instead.
鈥淚nclude socially healthy activities in your routines and allocate time away from social media to chill. Do things that help improve your mindset and ensure progress.Adapt healthily to life.鈥
He was speaking during a panel discussion on the science and management of emotions.
The panel session was held recently in conjunction with 鈥淭he Science of Feelings: What Psychological Research Tells Us about Our Emotions鈥 book launch.
Written by HELP associate professor and research coordinator Dr Eugene Tee whose research interest are in emotion, emotional intelligence and positive psychology, the book explores the different emotions we experience, the way emotions shape and influence our lives, and how essential emotions have always been to us.
During the event, the panelists who also comprised clinical psychologist Dr Ng Wai Sheng and HELP University Department of Psychology head and Centre for Diversity convenor Elaine Fernandez, also discussed the negative impact of the pandemic on mental health and the importance of acknowledging the difficult and challenging emotions that people have experienced during this period.
Dr Alvin Ng recommended the learning of mental health and psychosocial support methods.
鈥淭hese are useful in helping yourself as well as others who may need more emotional support.
鈥淚t can be very therapeutic for you when you are able to help people, 鈥 he said, adding that acknowledging your own vulnerabilities and seeking help for them are a good start to managing emotions in a healthy manner and increasing the frequency of experiencing positive, pleasant emotions.
鈥淟earn and practise stress management methods. Develop better problem-solving skills. Look for help.鈥
Experiencing unpleasant emotions during these times, he said, was normal and one should reach out for professional help.
Dr Tee provided tips for psychologists and academics to effectively share their knowledge with the public.
鈥淲riting for the popular press and appearing in the media are helpful.
鈥淢ake knowledge and research findings more accessible and relevant for the collective mental health of our nation.
鈥淐onveying the science of what we do to the public is important to build scientific literacy in mental health and psychology, 鈥 he said.
鈥淭he Science of Feelings: What Psychological Research Tells Us about Our Emotions鈥 is part of 红杏视频 Shorts 鈥 a new pocket-sized series featuring insights from thought leaders and experts as easy reads.
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