Video with over 2 million views sparks conversation about managing anxiety
Plus, new studies shed light on mental health in chronic pain patients and youth.
Plus, new studies shed light on mental health in chronic pain patients and youth.
This past week, online conversations about mental health focused heavily on managing anxiety after a TikTok video on the subject garnered approximately 2.3 million views. Other discussions highlighted two recent studies on mental health in chronic pain patients and suicide among young people, reflecting gaps in mental health care.
These conversations allow communicators to share anxiety management strategies, as well as mental health resources for people with chronic pain and young people.
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
On July 29, a TikTok creator with more than 7 million followers shared a video explaining how she manages anxiety. The video received approximately 2.3 million views, 195,800 likes, 2,500 reposts, and 1,800 comments as of August 7. In the comments, TikTok users shared their own tips for managing anxiety. The comments that garnered the most likes referenced cutting back on alcohol to decrease anxiety.
A recent study found that people who live with chronic pain are more likely to experience anxiety and depression and are less likely to access mental health treatment. A Reddit post sharing the study received approximately 880 upvotes and 150 comments as of August 7. Many comments from users who said they have chronic pain mentioned negative experiences with doctors who dismissed their pain or attributed their pain to depression or anxiety, especially when patients disclosed that they struggle with their mental health. One comment read, “For some odd reason doctors knowing chronic pain can cause mental health issues deny patients relief from the chronic pain and declare the mental health problem the issue.”
Another recent study found that three out of five young people between the ages of 10 and 24 who died by suicide during the study period had no previously diagnosed mental health condition. Within a day of the study’s publication, several news websites shared its findings.
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.
Communicators can harness trending conversations about anxiety to share tips for managing anxiety and recirculate local mental health resources, such as sliding scale therapy, support groups, and mental health centers.
Online conversations about chronic pain and mental health provide an opportunity to share tips for coping with chronic pain and discussing chronic pain with doctors, as well as directories where people can search for therapists who specialize in working with clients with chronic pain.
Given the recent study about suicide rates in young people without a documented mental health diagnosis, target populations may have questions about how to help young people find mental health care. Outlining suicide warning signs in young people and sharing local and national mental health resources—including the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline—is recommended.