This dissertation highlights social media as digitally-mediated support for neurodivergent individuals, countering alarmist narratives of these platforms. Social networks have been criticized for their assumed role in addiction to technology, the spread of misinformation, and its impact on mental health. However, by adopting a critical disability theory lens, I critique the techno-solutionism around mental health care and focus on the lived experiences shared within neurodivergent social media communities. Existing social media platforms can provide community support situated within daily use for neurodivergent individuals to step away from the individualistic approaches currently promoted by much digital mental health technology. These social media-based communities are providing an important service of care and collective knowledge for individuals going through similar experiences to find validation and a sense of agency regarding diagnostic and support options. Social media platforms have democratized the dissemination of information about ADHD, allowing individuals with lived experience to contribute to the conversation and push back against stereotypical misconceptions about the community. The friendly and accessible format in which social media content is presented helps empower individuals in their personal journeys and provides important education. This research further explores the relationships neurodivergent individuals have had with diagnostic and care systems, as well as ongoing tensions with healthcare providers in both physical and digital spaces. By adopting the Neurodiversity Paradigm in HCI and healthcare, we will be better able to support neurodivergent communities.

Rates of mental health conditions like depression and anxiety have been rising each year, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the increasing prevalence of these conditions, barriers to accessing mental health care remain for many people in need of support. Digital mental health technology has proliferated in response to the increased rates of mental illness, as well as with the widespread adoption of smartphones. While prior work has rightly focused on the evaluation of the efficacy and evidential basis of these apps, there is a need for an examination of the subjective user experience of mental health apps. However, many apps are not supported by an evidential basis and, even highly valid apps struggle with low user engagement, as the adoption of technology is not necessarily driven by validity but rather user experience. The flexibility and constant availability of apps provide users with on-demand support not accessible through therapy or other traditional means of support. Conversational agents (chatbots), in particular, are increasingly better at simulating naturalistic interactions similar to those one would receive from a therapist or close friend. This paper describes two thematic analyses conducted on user reviews of 39 health and wellness apps, with a deep dive into six chatbot apps, as these are increasingly developed and downloaded. We discuss user-perceived benefits general to these types of apps – such as the 24/7 availability, social and motivational benefits – as well as benefits specific to apps implementing conversational agents, many pertaining to the development of some sort of advantageous relationship with a chatbot. We suggest implications for the future design and research of mental health apps.