In times where social media is the primary source of information and entertainment for a lot of individuals, it can be important to ensure that people consume content that is verified and true. Being a mental health advocate in the arena of social media is a different ball game altogether that requires further understanding of what we can do to spread awareness and make social media applications a reliable space to share and get verified data. Here’s how you can start:
1. Put up resources of Mental Health Professionals on your stories and highlights – People in your social circles may be in need of assistance but with the taboo, find it hard to reach out without fear of being shamed. Make it easier for them by putting up contact details of people they can connect with on your page so they can access them, if they feel the need to.
2. Share mental health pages and articles on your stories – You never know the impact it could have on someone who sees it. People often feel misunderstood or alone in their struggles; your sharing an article or a post might inspire them to connect to you or a professional.
3. Start a dialogue with admins of mental health pages – You can speak to them about any doubts you have and can ask them to share their resources with you. If you or someone you know requires mental health assistance, write to them to get the details of people that are reliable to provide the help.
4. Educate those who get it wrong, well-intentioned or otherwise – If you see a negative message or wrong facts about mental health on a page/ post, write to the admins or comment on it and provide them with correct info via research articles. There are a lot of false claims being made on the internet and while it’s not possible to correct every person that gets things wrong, start out small and only do so when you have the mental capacity to.
5. Have small conversations with your inner circle – Attempt to start chats about mental health. You could share with close friends a post that caught your attention and ask for their views after sharing yours. It can get the conversation started and could be the opportunity for you to help your friends understand the topic better and for you to understand their points of view.