Now, Instagram will help you cope with depression

New Delhi: A new study says that social media sites like Instagram and Reddit can help people cope with depression.

Depression has a way of silencing its sufferers. Even in today's technology-connected society, people are hesitant to talk about their painful experiences and suffering for fear of being stigmatised.

Though this has been the unfortunate norm for quite some time, new research from Drexel University in the US is steadily uncovering the areas of social network sites where the sufferers are finding solace.

Andrea Forte and Nazanin Andalibi from Drexel's College of Computing and Informatics have observed that one way people in pain are overcoming silence is by using Instagram - and recruiting pictures to help them explain the feelings and experiences that are often too painful or complicated to put into words.

"Physical or mental health and body image concerns are stigmatized, rarely disclosed and frequently elicit negative responses when shared with others," researchers said.

"We found that these disclosures, in addition to deep and detailed stories of one's difficult experiences, attract positive social support on Instagram," they said.

(With PTI inputs)