Panel Discussion 9 - Using Social Media Video Platforms to Disseminate Principles of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies

Research shows that a third of people seeking health information online use social media to obtain that information (Lau et al., 2001). This number is likely even higher for today's young adults and adolescents, with potentially 50% of Gen Z and Millenials using video-based social media services like TikTok for online searches. With 168 million Americans using Instagram and 150 million Americans using TikTok, these platforms represent a vast but largely untapped opportunity for researchers and practitioners to educate the public about evidence-based therapies. Indeed, research has found that social media is an effective medium for spreading accurate health information and encouraging health-related behavior change, particularly in underserved communities that might not have access to treatment (Alonso & Popescu, 2021). Accordingly, professional organizations like the APA and NASW encourage practitioners to recognize the potential utility of social media as a tool for dissemination. Given shorter video's ability to increase retention and learning outcomes (Noetel et al., 2021), video-based social media is particularly important for mental health advocates to consider. 

Despite social media's great potential and importance, many professionals are uncomfortable using these platforms due to professional concerns (e.g., ethical considerations) and personal concerns (e.g., social anxiety and lack of familiarity with the tech). This panel, composed of licensed clinicians with years of research and clinical experience, will discuss these concerns to support attendees in pursuing social media dissemination, focusing on visual and video-based social media. Participants on this panel have used TikTok and Instagram to educate the public and their combined >185,000 followers about mental health, using CBT, DBT, and ACT principles. They will discuss their experiences on social media, providing examples of ethical dilemmas faced, as well as challenging and rewarding interactions with consumers. The panelists will show video examples of their work to demonstrate how social media is used to promote evidence-based therapy. Finally, they will address the personal difficulties that attendees could face when putting themselves "out there" in this new way.