2024-01-10
Mental Health on YouTube: How do female influencers on YouTube portray and discuss mental health issues?
Publication
Publication
A case study of Anna Akana’s YouTube videos
This thesis explores the portrayal and discussion of mental health issues by female influencers on YouTube, focusing on the case study of Anna Akana. The research highlights the importance of effective mental health communication in the digital age, especially given the increased mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The main research question examines how Anna Akana, a well-known YouTube influencer, addresses mental health topics in her video content. The study does a qualitative thematic analysis of 30 videos between 2018 and 2024. The analysis identifies four main themes: daily self-care and inner growth; mental health strategies and interventions; mental health misconceptions and social stigma; and personal journeys to healing and empowerment. These themes show how Anna Akana educates her audience about practical self-care methods, challenges common misconceptions about mental health, and shares her own experiences to promote emotional resilience and self-acceptance. Although her content does not specifically focus on gender-related mental health issues, her identity as a female influencer naturally supports a gender-sensitive approach to mental health communication. The study concludes that female influencers like Anna Akana play a significant role in shaping public discourse on mental health. By combining educational content with personal storytelling, they make mental health information more accessible and relatable. This research highlights the potential of social media as a powerful tool for public health communication and calls for further studies on the impact of digital influencers on mental health advocacy.
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dr. Anouk van Drunen | |
hdl.handle.net/2105/74945 | |
Media & Creative Industries | |
Organisation | Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication |
Wen, Maggie. (2024, January 10). Mental Health on YouTube: How do female influencers on YouTube portray and discuss mental health issues?. Media & Creative Industries. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/2105/74945
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