Mental Health Perceptions and Information Seeking on TikTok

The COVID-19 pandemic instigated widespread social disruption while also highlighting the important role of mental health in young adult development and the unique mental health challenges that young people face. In this landscape, polarizing social media has both facilitated social connections and contributed to severe social distress. Furthermore, the emergence of social media has simultaneously contributed to both the democratization and the deterioration of information regarding resources for mental health support. Previous studies have also demonstrated stark differences in mental healthcare use according to an individual’s self-reported ethnic identity. Here, we analyzed the existing TikTok content associated with #MentalHealth and collaborated with a minority-identifying TikTok influencer to produce content promoting mental health awareness and resources for self-care or access to a mental health professional. Our findings highlight to the significant potential of circulating mental health information through a TikTok strategy, especially one that targets and uplifts minority-identifying young adults.