# Debate: Standing up for science – how to combat misinformation in child mental health? Five recommendations for disentangling fact from fiction

## TL;DR

This paper discusses how to combat misinformation about child mental health online and offers five practical recommendations for promoting science-based understanding.

## Contribution

The paper presents five novel, actionable recommendations for addressing misinformation in child mental health through science communication and digital literacy.

## Key findings

- Misinformation about child mental health can negatively affect decision-making and help-seeking behaviors.
- Promoting digital literacy is crucial for distinguishing fact from fiction in online health information.
- Science communication strategies can help reduce medical mistrust and stigma related to child mental health.

## Abstract

The rising use of digital technologies and social media means that individuals, including young people, are increasingly searching for and consuming health‐related information online. Although there are benefits to this, there has also been an increase in health‐related misinformation, with growing concerns about the impact of this in the context of child mental health. This debate article outlines what misinformation is and why it is an issue in child mental health, before considering the impact that misinformation can have in relation to decision‐making, help‐seeking, medical mistrust, and stigma. Drawing on experiences with science communication, five recommendations are then presented for combating misinformation, focusing on what individuals can do when confronted with misinformation, how to have conversations with others about misinformation, and what can be done to promote digital literacy.