Alyssa Mancao and the rise of social media therapists

In recent years, a growing number of qualified mental health professionals have been surfacing on social media. Often seen as the source, rather than solution, of mental health problems, the platforms are allowing people like Alyssa Mancao to share mental health advice to thousands.

For Mancao, a ten-year licensed social worker based in Los Angles, it is filling a gap for so many who can access care through her platform.

“This position fell into my lap,” Mancao told The Big Issue. “I learned in graduate school that I can still be an advocate for social justice within the therapeutic one-on-one setting.”

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Mancao is the owner of a group therapy practice Alyssa Marie Wellness Inc. She joined Instagram in 2017 and now was 163,000 followers, growing her online platform by posting daily affirmations, inspirational quotes, and mental health advice. 

She said: “It was important to create content that was digestible. I want to normalise a lot of what we go through. Oftentimes, we feel like we’re the only ones going through it or that we’re alone.

“I take a lot of inspiration from the sessions I have with my clients, conversations that I have with friends, and personal experiences to create posts that people can relate to.”

Covid-19’s impact put significant pressure on many people’s mental health. Research found that in 2020, an estimated 76 million cases of anxiety and 53 million cases of depression were reported. 

The deterioration of mental health has hit an all-time high record in England. Recent research from the ONS has shown that one in six adults experience depression, compared to one in ten before the pandemic.

Mancao discussed how she has noticed a significant shift in the stigma surrounding mental health.

 “I think that people have been more in touch with their mental health in these last two years. There’s been a huge shift in the destigmatisation of mental health, towards talking about mental health, taking care of our mental health. 

“People have been more open talking about their anxiety, depression. There’s been a lot of anxiety around the future, anxiety around finances – reintegrating back into society.”

A study conducted in 2020 by the American Psychological Association revealed that 84 per cent of psychologists in the US are predominately white, which Mancao flags as a big issue.

“We need providers that are culturally competent, that can understand and relate to the different cultural nuances of each individual,” she said. 

“Not only are we lacking in terms of the quantity of mental health providers, but we’re also lacking in terms of representation – having a therapist from different cultural backgrounds to be able to appropriately treat clients from different cultural backgrounds.”

In the US, African Americans, Latinx and Asian Americans receive 50–70 per cent less mental health care than white people.

“Therapy is costly, especially if you don’t have insurance. For the most part, it is really a privilege to be in therapy, when it really should be a right,” Mancao said. 

“Those that are disproportionately impacted are typically people of colour because they largely are uninsured”.

Mancao offers advice to individuals who are currently struggling to open up about their mental health. 

“It does feel scary to speak up about it. But things that are scary, or oftentimes very doable. if you’re struggling with your mental health, it’s important to talk about it with anyone, a friend, anyone that feels safe to you.”

She continued: “If you’re struggling with talking about your feelings, I recommend journaling because that’s a safe space. Start with being honest with yourself about how you’re feeling and putting it down on paper.”

Follow Alyssa on Instagram