TIKTOK BRINGS LIGHT TO GLOBAL MENTAL HEALTH

TIKTOK BRINGS LIGHT TO GLOBAL MENTAL HEALTH

By Correspondent

The World Health Organization (WHO), World

Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) and

United for Global Mental Health (UnitedGMH)

are with TikTok to increase global awareness

about mental health challenges.

Global and local creators including Neffati

Brothers, Ana Gum, official_itsjustfay_ and

sialoqueen joined the movement.

#MoveforMentalHealth challenge to take place

in Kenya for World Mental Health Day.

The challenge aims to bring global awareness

to the need to invest in mental health, a need

made all the more acute by the COVID-19

pandemic.

With billions lacking access to appropriate

mental health support, the WHO, WFMH, and

UnitedGMH come together to create the first

truly global movement calling for greater

investment in mental health.

The TikTok community in Kenya is encouraged

to play sport, dance, go for a walk or come up

with their own ways to move this World Mental

Health Day and film themselves moving for

mental health in any way they would like.

“Globally there is not enough movement on

mental health, despite the fact that close to one

billion people across the world have a mental

disorder,” said United for Global Mental Health’s

CEO and Founder, Elisha London. “Having faced

years of chronic underinvestment, this World

Mental Health Day we are coming together to

#MoveforMentalHealth with TikTok’s support

because now more than ever it’s time to invest

so that everyone, everywhere has someone to

turn to.”

Global hitmaker, DJ Marshmello, as well as

other creators including the Neffati Brothers,

Ana Gum, official_itsjustfay_ and sialoqueen,

have all joined the challenge to encourage

Kenyans to do the same.

Dévora Kestel, Director of the Mental Health

and Substance Use Department at the World

Health Organization said: “At WHO, we are

delighted to see the commitment of TikTok to

encouraging conversations and movement on

mental health.

Mobilization on a global scale can help drive

the decisions that ultimately will lead to better

mental health services when and where we

need them.”

WHO’s Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom

Ghebreyesus, will be joined by world leaders,

celebrities and mental health experts via a live

stream on Saturday, October 10 at 17:00 East

Africa Time , on TikTok about how the

community can help make sure that quality

mental health care is available to everyone who

needs it.

The live stream will feature short videos

showcasing how WHO and partners are

working to improve people’s mental health

around the world, celebrity testimonies, Q&As

and performances, and statements of

commitment from heads of state and

government.

Boniswa Sidwaba, TikTok Content Operations

Manager, Africa, says that TikTok prides itself

on being a place that inspires creativity and

brings joy to its users, especially considering

the challenging year we have all had. “This

World Mental Health Day, it’s important, now

more than ever, that we increase awareness

about mental health challenges and provide a

platform where we can promote the safety and

mental wellbeing of our users.”

TikTok has long been committed to fostering an

environment that promotes good mental health.

With features such as Screen Time

Management and Restricted Mode, users are

empowered to focus on their digital wellbeing.

Additionally, TikTok’s comprehensive Privacy

and Safety settings allow users to decide who

can follow them, send them messages or

reactions, and set their account private to avoid

any unwanted solicitation.

TikTok is the leading destination for short-form

mobile video.

With a Mission to inspire creativity and bring

joy.

TikTok has global offices including Los

Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Dubai,

Mumbai, Singapore, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.