Technology to shift perceptions on emotional wellbeing

Summary

Using the momentum gained from a recent digital study on social media platforms which showed that over 500,000 users were more likely to seek mental health treatment after engaging with targeted mental health content , the Mental Health Coalition (MHC) commits to developing unique measurement strategies to test and learn how to positively impact people’s mental health in at least three key areas: BOPIC mental health, belonging and suicide prevention, youth and young adults. In partnership with Meta and NAMI, MHC seeks to indirectly impact 76 million people over the next year through social media messaging that positively impacts people’s emotional well-being and willingness to seek resources.

Approach

We commit to use social media and technology to positively impact people’s emotional well-being and willingness to seek resources. We have proved with our recent digital study the ability to change perceptions around mental health with a large audience (people ages 18-34). The study also found that these learning are scalable. Through MHC’s long-standing partnership with Meta along with our group of expert advisors, MHC intends to develop unique measurement strategies to test and learn how to impact people’s mental health in at least three key areas over the next year. Our expert advisor includes Dr. Marc Brackett, Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, a pioneer in social emotional learning. The National Alliance for Mental Illness, a nonprofit committed to building better lives through education, support, and advocacy. In addition to support from one of the largest social media companies Meta, and a group of diverse creative agencies including Code 3 and Provoc. With

this unique cross sector team we are confident we can build meaningfully digital programming that will change attitudes around mental health and drive users from across the country to mental health support. We commit to take these learnings to key populations, test several different strategies of messaging and delivery methods and publish all of the results in a free and open framework that can be used for all to replicate.

Background

Mental health is a longstanding public health crisis confronting humanity. According to WHO 1 in 4 people globally will need mental health care in their lives, however, 4 in 4 live with it. Two thirds of people with mental health conditions never seek professional help and ‘live in the shadows’.?

Youth today increasingly live their lives online, and technology can be used to bolster rather than hinder mental wellbeing. While the use of technology has a variety of substantial benefits, concerns have been raised regarding the negative influence of technology use, particularly social media, on the mental health of young persons.?

A 2018 Pew Research Center found that 97% of teens use a social media platform.?

In partnership with Meta, the mental health coalition has set forth on a series of measurable messaging campaigns to test and learn aimed at helping people aged 18-34 to recognize the symptoms of mental health, acknowledge its importance and seek culturally appropriate resources and care when necessary.

Mental health is a longstanding public health crisis confronting humanity. According to WHO 1 in 4 people globally will need mental health care in their lives, however, 4 in 4 live with it. Two thirds of people with mental health conditions never seek professional help and ‘live in the shadows’. Youth today increasingly live their lives online, and technology can be used to bolster rather than hinder mental wellbeing. While the use of technology has a variety of substantial benefits, concerns have been raised regarding the negative influence of technology use, particularly social media, on the mental health of young persons. A 2018 Pew Research Center found that 97% of teens use a social media platform. In partnership with Meta, the mental health coalition has set forth on a series of measurable messaging campaigns to help people aged 18-34 to recognize the symptoms of mental health, acknowledge its importance and seek culturally appropriate resources and care when necessary. A recent digital study looking at the first part of this messaging work has shown that MHC’s content and resources has meaningfully changed how over 500,000 Americans felt about the importance of their mental health and their willingness to seek mental health support. The study specifically showed a controllable ability to increase people’s understanding of their emotional well-being and the importance of taking care of it. Secondly, it increases people’s willingness to seek vital resources for emotional wellbeing.

Progress Update

Partnership Opportunities

MHC is well positioned with our current partners and funding to implement the first part of this commitment related to multiple messaging initiatives with key partners across META platforms (FB & IG), if we wanted to scale this work to other technology additional financial support would be required. Additional funding to help MHC implement an open framework of best practices and support to promote that information so as many organizations as possible is needed.