Seeking Attention ≠ Mental Illness

Seeking attention is often misunderstood as a sign of mental illness, but that is not always the case. Everyone has a basic human need for validation, recognition, and empathy. Labelling someone as “attention-seeking” can silence genuine cries for help and prevent important conversations about mental health.

For many, attention-seeking behaviour can be linked to trauma, neglect, or past abuse, where acting out becomes a survival mechanism. Psychology and criminology both show that dismissing these actions can have harmful outcomes, from silencing those in distress to increasing risks of substance abuse or even crime. What may look like “clout-chasing” online could actually be a way of finding connection and community.

Globally, health systems and laws remind us to tread carefully. The World Health Organization stresses the need to avoid pathologising normal behaviours, while human rights laws call for dignity and respect for all individuals. Ignoring signs of distress under the assumption of “just seeking attention” can even have legal consequences under duty of care frameworks.

Instead of silencing with labels, societies should encourage empathy and support. Not all behaviour signals illness, and not every dramatic expression is fake. By learning to distinguish between genuine cries for help and performative behaviour, we create safer spaces for healing and protect mental health.