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People seeking advice about depression and anxiety from community-based Reddit groups are often encouraged to get professional help, but a new Flinders University study has found that some responses to people in crisis lack clear next steps or the urgency recommended by clinical guidelines.

Published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, the study examined 1,065 posts and their highest-ranked visible responses in Reddit's popular r/mentalhealth community. Researchers compared actionable advice with established international and Australian clinical guidance.

The most common recommendation posted on Reddit for both depression and anxiety was for people to seek professional help. Other suggestions included returning to daily activities in small steps, building healthy routines, managing difficult emotions and reaching out for social support—advice that also frequently reflected clinical guidance.

An estimated one in five Australians experiences a mental illness at some stage, and digital platforms and peer support are often people's first point of contact before seeking professional help.

Dr. Peivand Bastani, a senior lecturer in health care management at Flinders University, says the Reddit study findings highlight the potential contribution of online peer support.

"An encouraging finding was how often people directed each other toward professional help," says senior author and research supervisor Bastani.

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