Post emphasizes men’s need for mental health support

Other posts highlighted the expansion of mental health insurance coverage and the need for counselors in schools.

This past week, an X post noting that men struggle to create spaces where they can support one another generated the most online conversation about mental health. In other conversations, social media users discussed a federal rule that will improve access to mental health treatment, with some doubting the effectiveness of antidepressant medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Additionally, an Arizona school board’s decision to end a grant that provided counselors and social workers for students drew criticism.

Public health communicators may recirculate mental health resources for men, share information about the benefits and risks of antidepressant medications, and offer mental health resources for students, as well as the teachers and caregivers who support them.

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What’s trending nationally in conversations about mental health

On September 17, an X user shared a post about the difficulty men face in creating “safe spaces” for themselves. The post outlined the ridicule men may receive from women when they attempt to seek support from other men, including criticism for excluding women and the accusation that “you’re gay if you want to hang around a bunch of men.” The post received approximately 210,600 views, 7,300 likes, 1,400 reposts, and 100 comments as of September 25. In the comments, men thanked the woman who wrote the post for acknowledging these difficulties, with some noting how stigma has prevented them from discussing their mental health with other men.

Earlier this month, the Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury departments finalized a rule ensuring that health insurance companies cover mental health and substance use disorder treatment at the same level as physical health care. Under this rule—which will go into effect in January 2025—health care plans with limited mental health benefits will be required to take corrective actions, such as expanding therapist networks or eliminating prior authorization requirements. On September 17, a congressperson shared the announcement on X. In the comments, many users praised the rule, but others expressed skepticism, citing concerns that expanding mental health treatment coverage will not address the underlying causes of mental health conditions. One comment on an X post celebrating the announcement read, “Great, So now they can just prescribe more pills and SSRI’s rather than actually get to the root of the issues.” Another comment suggested that SSRIs cause school shootings, a claim with no causal evidence.

On September 19, an Arizona school board voted to end a grant that funded a mental health program serving nearly 2,000 students. The program began providing full-time social workers and counselors at schools after the 2018 Parkland school shooting in Florida. On Facebook, X, and Reddit, mental health advocates disparaged the decision. Many posts and comments stated that providing counselors and social workers is critical for students’ mental health.

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Recommendations for public health professionals

Each week, the Infodemiology.com team will provide messaging recommendations in response to some of the trending narratives outlined above. These helpful tips can be used when creating content, updating web and FAQ pages, and developing strategy for messaging about mental health.

Online conversation about the lack of mental health support for men shows a need for more tailored resources. Communicators may recirculate materials outlining signs of mental health conditions in men and warning signs of suicide. Sharing general mental health resources—including support groups, hotlines, local mental health centers, and websites where people can search for therapists who specialize in men’s issues—is recommended.

Concerns about SSRIs provide an opportunity to explain how SSRIs work and their risks and benefits. Messaging may emphasize that SSRIs are antidepressants that allow more serotonin—a chemical that regulates mood—to circulate in the brain. SSRIs are safe for most people, but they come with some mild side effects and risks.

In response to conversations about students’ mental health, communicators may want to share tips for teachers and parents to identify mental health symptoms in children and teens, as well as tips to help students manage symptoms. Recirculating mental health resources for young people—including the peer support hotline YouthLine, the Trevor Project’s hotline for LGBTQ+ youth, and Seize the Awkward, which helps young people start conversations about mental health—is recommended.