From Hashtags to Healing: How Social Media is Changing Mental Health Advocacy
- Ava Schipani
- May 6
- 5 min read
By: Ava Schipani
If you had told me years ago that social media would become a key part of my mental health journey, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. Back then, it felt more like a mindless escape. A place to scroll endlessly, post Instagram dumps, and keep up with friends online. However, as I became more intentional about the content I consumed, I started to see these media platforms in a new light. People started sharing raw, honest experiences, opening up about mental health in ways I had never seen before, and creating spaces that made healing feel a little less lonely.
Social media has increasingly become a resource for mental health care, providing people with a platform to share their struggles, seek support, and access information that might not be readily available elsewhere (Naslund et al., 2020). It’s not a replacement for professional help, but for many, it’s a first step toward healing.
From Silence to Speaking Up
Mental health was never something as openly discussed as it is today. At least, not in a real, unfiltered way. I feel that there was always this quiet expectation to “just deal with it” to push through without making it a conversation. But then I started scrolling upon many posts and videos where people were talking about their struggles and really opening up online. Using hashtags on these posts like #EndTheStigma and #MentalHealthMatters. People weren’t just sharing; they were normalizing. This was a huge shift for online communities and for the mental health industry. Seeing these open conversations online gave me the words for things I had felt but didn’t always know how to express. That’s the thing about social media, it can make you feel seen in ways that even the people around you sometimes can’t. I noticed communities experiencing the same effects, with people uplifting each other online, reposting inspiring content and sharing mental health resources. Consuming this kind of content online made me feel seen, supported and comfortable.
Studies have shown that social media plays a crucial role in reducing stigma and increasing mental health awareness. In fact, research suggests that peer-to-peer interactions on social media can positively impact mental well-being by providing validation, reducing isolation, and creating supportive communities (Naslund et al., 2020).
Learning Through the Scroll
I have always been someone who loves to reflect and journal. Journaling is a grounding technique that I use to help process and regulate my own emotions. Social media introduced me to many new pieces of content that enhanced this outlet for me. This includes perspectives and questions I wouldn’t have come up with on my own.
A single journal prompt idea from a post would sometimes shift my mindset for the entire day.
A creator speaking to the camera and breaking down their trauma responses in a 60-second video could help me recognize certain patterns within myself.
A simple affirmation shared by a stranger could be the thing that pulled me out of a spiral in that moment.
While social media is not a replacement for therapy or professional support, for a lot of people including myself, it’s a starting point. It is a space to learn, reflect, and feel validated in ways that might not always happen offline. Social media provides a wealth of mental health information, including coping strategies and educational content that can help people navigate and understand their own emotions. The very easy accessibility of this knowledge means that even those without immediate access to therapy can still gain some valuable insight into their mental health.
Building a Digital Support System
One of the most unexpected things I've found through social media is just how powerful online communities can be. Through the creation of my own wellness brand, Salita, and my work in marketing for mental health advocacy, I've seen firsthand how strangers can become such a strong source of support for one another. Whether it’s in comment sections filled with people positively interacting with one another, a DM from someone saying this helped me today, or a shared experience that just reminds someone they’re not alone. These small online moments matter.
Community has always been at the heart of everything I do. Whether it’s through journaling prompts, mental health discussions, or simply creating space for people to feel heard, social media has given me a way to extend that support to a larger digital scale. Along the way, I've met some of the most inspiring people, just through the simple act of sharing and listening.
Studies show that engaging with mental health-related content on social media can lead to feelings of support, and a sense of belonging (Herrera-Peco et al., 2023). I have learned that when used intentionally, these platforms can serve as powerful tools for connection and healing.
But Let’s Be Real… It’s Not All Positive
Of course, it is also important to acknowledge that social media comes with its challenges. I have had moments where I needed to step back, especially when content became overwhelming.
I found it easy to get:
Stuck in the comparison trap (Why does their life look so perfect?)
Overloaded with information (Do I need to be consuming this much?)
Drained by the constant pressure to be “productive” (Am I doing enough?)
In fact, research has shown that while social media can be beneficial, excessive use or engagement with negative content can contribute to anxiety, depression, and stress (Vidal et al., 2020). That’s why being mindful of how we use these platforms is so important!
I’ve learned that curating my digital space makes all the difference. Some of the things that have helped me to construct this algorithm include:
Following accounts that uplift and educate.
Setting boundaries around my screen time.
Reminding myself that what I see online is only a small fraction of reality.
I have learned that if I am going to engage everyday with these platforms, I want to do it in a way that adds to my well-being rather than takes away from it. Therefore, although social media can be seen as a powerful tool, its effect is heavily dependent on how we use it. It can be a place for mindless scrolling, or it can be a space for learning, healing, and connection. For me, it’s been both. But over time, I’ve learned to engage with it in a way that supports my growth instead of draining me.
Here are some of my takeaways:
If we’re going to spend time on these platforms, let’s make it intentional.
Let’s follow people who inspire, educate, and uplift.
Let’s engage in conversations that matter, ones that break stigmas and open doors for healing.
And most importantly, let’s remember that healing isn’t just an individual journey, it happens in the connections we make, in the stories we share, and yes, even in the words we come across on our feeds.
👏🏻👏🏻
Awesome!