Muted colors in photos, a lack of smiles and photos alone without family or friends are all indicators.
Depression is a tricky beast. It can eat away at those who live with it, but for friends and family of those suffering, it can be hard to detect.
Some individuals are obviously down. Others can seem to be the life of the party, while inside, feelings of self-worth are eroding away.
How can you spot the problem?
The Mayo Clinic has a list of symptoms that can help you identify depression. In adults, it includes things like personality changes, difficulty with memory, physical aches and pains and loss of sleep and appetite. No interest in sex is also on there, as is a desire to stay at home, an avoidance of new news, and suicidal thoughts or feelings.
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But what about online? Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have pinpointed what to look for on a person’s social media accounts to detect depression, particularly on Twitter.
Account holders suffering were found to post photos that were less aesthetically appealing. They had muted colors and little depth of field.
In addition, the individuals didn’t always display negative emotions, but tended to suppress positive ones. Straight faces without a smile were present in profile pictures.
Photos on these profiles were often of the account holder alone, without family, friends or other people present, and they rarely included people participating in recreational activities or interests.
If you or someone you know is suffering from depression, talk to your doctor. Contact your local helpline or text the Crisis Text Line at 741741 in the United States.
