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Raevin: I genuinely love to help people, especially with psychology as one of my majors. I felt that once I incorporated that knowledge with my own personal experiences, I'd have a lot better insight on people's problems and going about creating a platform to help them.
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The ages normally range from about 12 to 24, or the asker may just say they're in middle school, high school, or working. It's really interesting, because the older ages come to me about relationship problems and the younger askers inquire about feminism and racism.And would you say the askers are mostly women and girls?
Generally, the askers are women or members of the LGBTQ community, who don't specify their pronouns/gender to me. Most of my followers are from the US, Canada, and the UK, that I know of, but I don't really make specifying their ASL [age, sex, and location] a requirement before coming to me.
Which subjects do you deal with most?Read On Motherboard: The Search for a Blood Test for Depression
The subjects range from relationships and healthy living to social justice, but most of the questions I get relate to depression and suicide. It's mostly 13 to 15-year-olds [asking about these topics].How do you respond to such sensitive questions? Are you not worried that you'll give the wrong advice?
I can relate, as that was the age I attempted suicide. I try to be as realistic as possible, as I know what it's like dealing with most of these situations, and I'll try not to give solutions that I'm sure they've already heard. I also try to put myself in—or back into—their position, because most of the time I've been there before.
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Yes, I have bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, bulimia, and anorexia. I also have fibromyalgia, among other less-severe physical illnesses.Do you receive any professional help?
I have supportive friends and family, but I'm not very good at handling my own problems, sort of like the saying, "Who is the therapist's therapist?" I'm grateful for that, though, because I know what it's like to be extremely hopeless and not know what to do. So that gives me the incentive to go the extra mile. I don't receive professional help, but I have a friend—with benefits—who has been extremely supportive.Do you think there are dangers to unqualified agony aunts giving advice on Tumblr?
Yeah, there is definitely a danger. After all, we're mostly young and unqualified. I don't diagnose, but I've seen people write that an asker has a certain illness. It's not their place to diagnose. I never tell people they have an illness. I feel like I'm here to listen and make the person feel better. Replies like, "People are dying, so be grateful for your life" are not helpful to someone who is suffering.
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Tumblr advice is free, and you don't have to wait months to speak to someone. There are loads of psychiatrists who write off their patients' feelings to "being a teen," or "just normal feelings," when they're not. Then these people come online. Professional help isn't easily accessible to everyone, and most people feel like they can't wait. They just need to talk to someone who wants to listen.
Raevin clearly has the right intentions. Of the thousands of Tumblr agony aunts out there, she seems to have a handle on what kind of advice to offer, and, importantly, refuses to try to diagnose anyone. However, it's safe to say that not everyone will be as measured and pragmatic as her.While Tumblr can act as an effective stop-gap between a referral and eventual treatment, it's imperative that if people are going to consult the site, they identify the right person to seek advice from—someone who can empathize and offer positive reinforcement—and also continue to seek professional help, instead of relying solely on the guidance of an untrained adviser.Follow Mica Dublin and Raevin on TwitterIf you are concerned about your mental health or that of someone you know, visit the Mental Health America website.