Mental health is a delicate issue. It’s not simple for individuals to discuss how bad their depression was that they couldn’t get out of bed in the morning or how traumatic events from their childhood are still affecting their daily lives. However, social media has allowed individuals to discuss mental illness more freely.
Your voice can make a big difference in people’s lives as a mental health practitioner attempting to promote your business on social media. The consequences of mental illness are profound: one in five adults in the United States has a mental illness during any given year, affecting roughly 52 million individuals, families, and communities. Many individuals need help, and social media is a great way to reach them.
If you’re looking for some inspiration, here are five social media accounts to take note of and follow.
The Millenial Therapist
https://www.instagram.com/millennial.therapist/
Sara Kuburić’s Instagram consists of lists, hard truths about mental health, and invitations for self-reflection. Her content is full of brief, to-the-point captions that contain a lot of value. Her material is used to help her followers comprehend their experiences and their own thoughts and emotions.
Therapy for Women
https://www.instagram.com/therapyforwomen
Along with Instagram content, Amanda shares TikToks and videos of themself. Their content is evidence-based and engaging, often sparking meaningful conversation in the comments section.
Another thing to appreciate about Amanda’s Instagram account is that as a self-described retired party girl, she is both relatable and lighthearted at the same time. Even the most challenging, complex issues are held in a friendly and secure environment on their page.
The Holistic Psychologist
https://www.instagram.com/the.holistic.psychologist
Dr. Nicole LePera breaks down complex psychological concepts into easily digestible content. In addition, the conversational way the content is presented makes it engaging and easy to understand.
Dr. LePera uses infographics and lists, and most of the posts are paired with a few paragraphs that dive deeper into the information presented in the graphics.
The Mind Geek
https://www.instagram.com/themindgeek
Sarah Crosby’s Instagram is full of beautifully created graphics and knowledge-packed captions. The content makes mental health information approachable. Along with graphics, posts usually contain several paragraphs of valuable information about various mental health and personal development topics.
Emotions Therapy
https://www.instagram.com/emotions_therapy
Cally Tate is a digital creator who uses her own struggles with mental health to educate others. This account is a reminder that you don’t have to be a professional to advocate to end the stigma of mental illness. Her stories promote the value of going to therapy, and her colorful graphics display great insights into emotional wellness and the importance of self-love.
And as a bonus, of course, we recommend you to follow our Instagram account @AmeliaVirtualCare. It is an account that is not aimed at promoting your practice, but through it, you will find our latest updates and everything related to Virtual Reality for mental health professionals.
What makes a social media account successful?
One of the most critical aspects of successful social media accounts is posting consistently. Of course, for some, this is easier said than done, but there are many apps and social media software available that allow you to plan your content ahead of time and then schedule the posts out -many times as far as a month or more ahead.
Boost your following and engagement
It may take years to gain traction on Instagram with a personal account. Yet, these mental health professionals and advocates have amassed followings of 10k or more engaged followers in a short amount of time. You can do this with targeted ad campaigns, being actively engaged on social media, and sharing your content.
Get clear on who your target audience is
The audience these five accounts are designed to appeal to is evident from what they write in their bio and the consistent messages that run through their material.
Branding is also essential to distinguish yourself
Through their Instagram feeds, these providers and advocates have developed a distinct visual and written presence. The colors they use in their graphics are consistent and calming, and they each have their own unique style.
As you can see, there are many different ways to share mental health information on Instagram successfully. What is most important is that you remain authentic to yourself while also providing valuable content that your target audience will appreciate and find helpful. If you can do this, you will be able to build a following of engaged followers who value your insights into mental health and wellness over time.