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This past week, the beginning of National Suicide Prevention Month garnered the most attention in online conversations about mental health, with one controversial X post that joked about suicide receiving significant engagement. In other conversations, social media users discussed the recent school shooting in Georgia, prompting debate about gun reform and mental health support for youth.
Throughout September, public health communicators may support the monthlong campaign by recirculating suicide warning signs and prevention tools. Communicators may also share mental health resources for children, teens, and mass shooting survivors.
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 conversations about mental health
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. In the past week, social media users used the hashtag #SuicidePreventionMonth 4,300 times across platforms. While most posts shared resources for people experiencing suicidal thoughts, one X user said they would take their own life to show awareness. That post received approximately 5 million views, 227,000 likes, 42,000 reposts, and 300 comments as of September 11. While several comments stated that these kinds of posts should be banned on X, many shared encouraging words (“it would be irresponsible of me not to say, we will eventually make it through this”) and some shared their own jokes about having suicidal thoughts.
The day after the school shooting in Georgia on September 4, news articles reported that the14-year-old suspect had previously experienced mental health struggles. In response, many social media posts called for gun reform, and some called for more mental health support for youth. One popular post on X argued against gun reform, stating, “We don’t have a gun problem. We have a cultural and mental health one.” That post received approximately 40,600 views, 1,800 likes, 280 reposts, and 150 comments as of September 11.
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 mental health.
National Suicide Prevention Month provides an opportunity for public health communicators to recirculate suicide prevention tools, including suicide warning signs, support groups, local mental health centers, and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Sharing mental health helplines geared toward your organization’s target populations is recommended. These resources include the BIPOC-led Call BlackLine, the Indigenous-led StrongHearts Native Helpline, the peer support hotline YouthLine, the LGBT National Help Center, the Trevor Project’s hotline for LGBTQ+ youth, and Trans Lifeline. Sharing resources for people who have lost loved ones to suicide is also recommended.
In response to conversations about school shootings and youth mental health, communicators may share resources to help students, teachers, and parents cope with the aftermath of school shootings. Communicators may also want to recirculate general youth mental health resources, such as therapist databases, support groups, local mental health centers, and mental health support hotlines for youth.