A critical discourse analysis of online mental health meaning-making in Australia

Rationale: This study offers valuable insights into the production, circulation, consumption and reproduction of mental health information on online forums from both textual and contextual perspectives.Objectives: The study critically examines how mental health is discursively constructed on social media in Australia through the interplay among posts, moderation practices, and user experiences.Methods: A qualitative study adopting the Faircloughian critical discourse approach to examine online content, moderation, and user experiences.Data were collected from mental health-related website forums and from interviews with users and moderators.Major Findings: Data were analysed using Fairclough's critical discourse analysis approach.Analysis of posts from interactive website forums, along with the perspectives of 11 moderators and users, identified two broad themes: support structures and the risks and triggers of mental distress.Implications: The study provides key insights to maximise the potential of website forums for mental health communication.