This past week ADS's own Toritsegbogwa (Tori) Jakpa , SDS Assistive Technology  & Accessibility Specialist, presented at the national Association for Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) conference in Denver on her research, "Overmedicalization in the Age of Social Media: Gen Z's Struggle with Self-Diagnosis," which she conducted with her research partner from Purdue University, Monaami Pal.

Her poster presentation in summary: Research studies have shown that there is a close relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and the American Psychiatric Association, leading to a tendency amongst mental health professionals to interpret everyday emotional suffering to be a medical condition which needs treatment. This is also fueled by the social media culture and the rise of influencers in the health and well-being industry. Our goal is to investigate how self diagnosis affects Generation Z. This issue of overmedicalization and self diagnosis is amplified by socioeconomic factors such as limited access to mental health services, geographic disparities in availability of healthcare, stigma associated with seeking medical help, and insurance affordability. Finally, we will apply crip theory and mad studies as frameworks to develop more effective and inclusive strategies to aid Gen Z’s mental health needs in higher educational systems.

When Tori is on campus, she works with undergraduate and graduate students registered with Student Disability Services, creating solutions with accessible technology.