## 3 Materials and Methods
### Dataset
#### 3.1.2 Reddit as Data Source  
There is a growing body of evidence pointing to the increasing use of Reddit as a data source across a variety of research disciplines, signifying an upward trend in academic publications utilizing this platform [54]. In the context of our proposed study, we aim to create our dataset using Reddit. This method has been proven effective in prior research, providing a solid foundation for our study [55; 56].  
Our rationale for choosing Reddit as our data collection medium is anchored on the following considerations:  
Access to High Volumes of Mental Health Data  
* Reddit, as a widely utilized social media site with approximately 430 million users, hosts numerous dedicated, topic-specific forums known as'subreddits'. These subreddits provide focused information on a plethora of subjects, including a significant number related to mental health. Prominent examples include r/mentalhealth, r/suicidewatch, r/lonely, r/depression, and r/anxiety, all of which offer deep insights into users' mental health issues. These forums have gained recognition due to their size, consistency, and active user participation, and have been deemed beneficial and prevalent by domain experts.
* Reddit serves as a platform where advice on a variety of mental health issues is sought and given. The r/IAMA subreddit, with its 22.4 million members, frequently features discussions on mental health topics, particularly under its affiliate r/Iama Health (Mental Health AMA), managed by professional psychotherapists [57].
* Mental health-related subreddits host large memberships, as illustrated in Table 1. These users candidly post about their mental health issues, and these subreddits have already been used for research purposes [58; 59]. Table 2 showcases the volume of mental health-related posts across selected months, illustrating the platform's active engagement.
* Reddit allows for extensive textual submissions, with a generous character limit of 40,000 characters per post. This enables users to express their sentiments in detail, seek advice, or provide support. The potential for such detailed posts can provide a richer and more nuanced dataset for mental health studies.  
Impacts of Anonymity on Content Quality and Relevance  
A unique advantage of Reddit is the pseudonymity to its users. This feature encourages individuals to express themselves freely without fear of social stigma. Subreddit moderators play a critical role in maintaining the anonymity of users by enforcing site rules that prohibit the disclosure of personal identities. Consequently, this results in high-quality, subject-specific content that is likely less biased than data collected through questionnaires and surveys [60].  
The authenticity and relevance of the subreddits are also maintained through the moderators' actions, who ensure the deletion of off-topic posts or'submissions'. Reddit, unlike other social media platforms, allows for lengthy user posts or'submissions'. This aspect permits users to express their sentiments in detail and either seek or provide support, making Reddit an ideal source for researchers seeking profound insights into sensitive aspects of the human psyche.  
Reddit's Role in Mental Health Research  
Reddit has become an increasingly recognized platform in mental health research due to its facilitation of open and detailed user discussions, offering a valuable environment for the study of mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety. Moreover, its utility extends to capturing real-time mental health data, which proved to be especially relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic [61].  
The affirmation of Reddit as a rich source of authentic mental health narratives, providing both depth and confidentiality, further validates our selection of this platform for comprehensive mental health research. Capitalizing on these qualities, our study delves into the underlying patterns and sentiments that characterize mental health discourse, aiming to uncover more profound insights.