Exposing Safe Messaging Gaps in YouTube's Mental Health Content

Abstract

This study analyzed how the ten most-viewed YouTube mental health videos portray tone, symptoms, and resources against WHO safe messaging guidelines and Jorm's mental health literacy framework. Findings show that while most content used destigmatizing framing and accurate resources, a notable share still featured stigmatizing tone or vague symptom portrayals, revealing gaps relevant to adolescent mental health literacy.