Conversations highlight mental health impacts of anti-immigrant bullying
Posts continued questioning the safety of medications for mental health conditions.
Posts continued questioning the safety of medications for mental health conditions.
This past week, articles online covered the mental health impacts of anti-immigrant bullying following the suicide of an 11-year-old girl in Texas. Plus, questions about the safety of medications prescribed for mental health conditions persisted.
Given these discussions, communicators may share bullying and suicide prevention resources, mental health resources for undocumented immigrants, and information about medications that treat mental health conditions.
Insights brought to you by the reporters and science writers of Public Good News (PGN), a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to improving community health.
What’s trending nationally in reproductive health conversation:
Recent articles and social media posts discussed an 11-year-old girl in Texas who died by suicide on February 8 after she was bullied over her family’s immigration status. One X post discussing the girl’s death received more than 35,000 likes as of February 26. Commenters argued that schools and parents need to do more to prevent bullying.
Online conversation about medications prescribed for mental health conditions continued this week in the wake of President Donald Trump’s February 13 executive order calling to “assess the prevalence of and threat posed by the prescription of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, stimulants, and weight-loss drugs.” ABC News reported on the benefits of antidepressants. Commenters on a Facebook post sharing the article offered personal anecdotes about how medication has helped them manage mental health conditions like depression and bipolar disorder. Some questioned whether these medications are safe.
Recommendations brought to you by the health communication experts behind Infodemiology.com.
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 reproductive health.
Conversations about bullying in schools provide an opportunity to share bullying prevention resources for children and their caregivers and the warning signs of bullying. Outlining the warning signs of suicide in children and teens is recommended. Communicators may want to share the 988 Suicide & Crisis Hotline and mental health resources geared toward youth—such as the peer support hotline YouthLine and the Trevor Project’s hotline for LGBTQ+ youth—as well mental health resources for undocumented immigrants.
In response to persistent concerns about psychiatric medication, communicators may recirculate the types of medications that are prescribed to treat mental health conditions and explain what patients can expect when beginning treatment. Communicators may emphasize that these medications are safe when taken as directed. People who take medications for mental health conditions should talk to their health care provider about their medical history and other medications they take before starting treatment and contact their health care provider if they experience any side effects. Sharing additional mental health resources—such as therapist directories, support groups, and local mental health centers—is recommended.