Facebook has become the most popular social network in the world, with more than 1.7 billion accounts, and researchers at the University of Cambridge believe the site can help identify mental illness and even be used to treat it.

For the younger generation, social networks have become a basic way to communicate with friends and family. The 92 percent of adolescents using Facebook everyday often reveal things about themselves otherwise hidden—this is where researchers believe the site could help physicians identify mental illnesses. Status updates, "likes," photos and comments are all indications of what someone is feeling. By analyzing this information, researchers are able to dissect the crucial online information that may have otherwise been unavailable through another medium.

"Facebook is hugely popular and could provide us with a wealth of data to improve our knowledge of mental health disorders such as depression and schizophrenia," says Becky Inkster, the study's lead-author. "Its reach is particularly broad, too, stretching across the digital divide to traditionally hard-to-reach groups including homeless youth, immigrants, people with mental health problems and seniors."

In a previous study of 200 participants over 18 years of age, researchers found that one in four posts contained depressive symptoms. The topics and emotions behind each post are early insights into mental illness, and early detection can lead to support for the individual. Researchers believe that personalizing treatment based on experiences documented on Facebook could help in reconnecting with autobiographical memories that may have been hidden by depression.

"Facebook relationships may help those with reduced self-esteem and provide companionship for individuals who are socially isolated," said Inkster. "We know that socially isolated adolescents are more likely to suffer from depression and suicidal thoughts, so these online stepping stones could encourage patients to reform offline social connections. Although it isn't clear yet how social networking sites might best be used to improve mental health care, they hold considerable promise for having profound implications that could revolutionize mental healthcare.”