Is Your Feed Misleading You? The Science Behind Mental Health Content

Learn how to spot misleading mental-health claims online and use psychology and neuroscience to judge what’s credible. We are surrounded by mental-health content on TikTok, Instagram, podcasts and beyond. Terms such as “trauma response”, “dopamine detox” and “nervous-system regulation” have become part of everyday conversation-but how much of what we see is accurate, and how can we tell? Applied neuroscience educator Dr Anja Harrison explores how mental-health research is translated into public content and where that process can go wrong. She will examine why certain ideas spread so quickly, how complex findings become simplified or distorted, and how online content can shape the way people understand themselves and others. Drawing on neuroscience, psychology, research and science communication, the session will offer practical ways to assess the claims we encounter online, with no previous scientific knowledge required. Event Schedule Please arrive by 19:15 to check in and get settled before the talk begins, door will close at this time so we can start the talk promptly at `19:30. 19:00 – 19:30 Arrival & Warm-Up Activity 19:30 – 20:15 Talk 20:15 – 20:30 Q&A 20:30 – 21:00 Optional Networking This session will help you: • spot common misunderstandings in mental health content • understand why “relatable” doesn’t always mean “accurate” • think more critically about the information you consume and share This talk is for anyone interested in mental health—no background in psychology or science required. About the Speaker Dr Anja Harrison is an Associate Professor level at King’s College London, and CEO of The Collaborative Library. Her work focuses on making science accessible, meaningful, and useful beyond academia.She leads large-scale online education programmes in applied neuroscience and has pioneered innovative approaches to assessment that transform student work into public-facing outputs. Through The Collaborative Library, she works with students, academics, and organisations to translate research into clear, engaging content for wider audiences.Her interests include science communication, knowledge equity, and how emerging technologies—such as AI and social media—are reshaping the way we understand mental health. • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dranjaharrison/ • Website: https://www.thecollaborativelibrary.com • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=the+collaborative+library Ticket Options In Person OR Livestream/Recording Early Bird: Discounted early-access ticket. Includes in-person entry, livestream access, and recording. Community Ticket: Lower-cost ticket for students, lower-income attendees, carers, or anyone currently facing financial barriers. Includes in-person entry, livestream access, and recording. General Admission: Standard in-person ticket. Includes livestream access and recording. Final Release: Final allocation of in-person tickets. Includes livestream access and recording. Bring a friend (admits 2): Grab a +1 and share the fun! Includes in person tickets, livestream access and recording for both. OR Livestream & Recording: ONLY remote access ticket with livestream and recording included.All recordings will be shared privately within 4 weeks of the event. Venue: Please allow a little extra time if travelling during peak hours, major sporting events, or potential travel disruption. At the time of publishing, there are no planned strike actions. However, this may change, so we recommend checking your route before purchasing tickets if you may be affected, as tickets are non-refundable. https://tfl.gov.uk/campaign/strikes Age & IDs: the event takes place in a bar venue, you may be asked to show valid ID. Please bring identification if you look under 25, otherwise you may be refused entry to the establishment. 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