If you’re into the YouTube scene, you may be aware of the website betterhelp.com, which offers cheap online therapy with licensed therapists. It’s been promoted by several prominent YouTubers, the most influential of whom is probably Philip DeFranco. If you want to be caught up to speed, give this Polygon article a quick read. Or, watch this PewDiePie video (Yes, PewDiePie. I know what you’re saying to yourself, but he makes some solid points even if the overall presentation is silly.)
I’d just like to take the time to say if you feel you need to see a therapist, counselor, psychologist, or other mental health professional, please see what your available options are for in-person visits near you. Mental health issues should not be treated lightly, and I re-iterate that you should seek treatment just the same as you would for a physical health issue.
In our current climate, at least for young adults, mental health issues have become fetishized. People claim that it’s never been easier to talk about mental health issues, but in reality there is still a huge stigma around it. It’s still painted in a false light in the media in both news and entertainment, and it’s still hard to have a conversation about it.
Given this difficulty, and the ease of access of using the internet, I can see why people might find Better Help attractive. User reviews on Better Help seem mixed however, and dependant on the specific therapist. There’s not enough information to claim Better Help is acting maliciously, as some might suggest. But I can’t help but feel a sour taste in my mouth that so many YouTubers shared a potentially damaging site that is unsure of its own identity. As PewDiePie points out (again, I know) the site both claims to be a substitute for seeing a therapist in person, but also says in its terms and conditions it is not a substitute for seeing a therapist in person. Therapy is not something that should be mass produced and consumed.
In the end, if there is a lesson to be learned it is to always have a healthy dose of skepticism. If something sounds too good to be true, maybe it is.
After all, you don’t want to be known as the person who jumped on a bandwagon only to be exposed by PewDiePie. Right?
Silas White 