Crisis, Mental Health, and Technology – an uncommon marriage
I am going to go on a limb and say we need social media and technology advances. Our ecosystem, mental health, families, economy, and self-preservation need it. Sure, there are people that will go off grid and disappear but for the rest of us raising families, active in our communities, and participating whole heartedly in the world, we need it. It is no longer an option.
Sunday night an earthquake hit Turkey and
Syria while I slept. By the time I checked twitter during my first coffee of
the morning, news and details were everywhere. I received a new alert in my
inbox and by 6 pm I had already received two non-profits asking for support -
Save the Children and America-Israel Friendship League. Very quickly, over 2,000 were confirmed dead,
and that number will spike dramatically in the coming days. The quake is one
the strongest to hit the region in over a hundred years with multiple aftershocks
felt throughout the region afterwards. Sadly, this earthquake is in an already impoverished and war torn area. This adds salt to an already bad situation.
The importance of technology and apps in
emergencies and during a healthcare crisis is critical.
I know for some the constant coverage and updates are too much. The images and the narratives can be overwhelming, but it can help long term for documentation, paint a realistic picture of the suffering or assistance needed. Using technology can help the relief efforts to be more strategic.
In 2022 article published in JMIR Cancer journal reveals, “The nature of expression over social media can lead to greater support as geographic boundaries are eliminated” (Basch, C., et al. 2022).
Both the World Health Organization and the American Cancer Society published statistics that Breast Cancer remains the second most diagnosed cancer in the world just under lung cancer. There were 2.3 million Breast Cancer cases in 2020. Tik Tok of all things is playing a huge role for both awareness and advocacy. Women are telling their stories and encouraging others to find support care, get prevention screenings, and celebrate survivors. The research noted that there could be misinformation published but in most case the information was accurate and had positive messages. Tik Tok could save lives.
The most profound advancements can be connected to resilience and mental health. From the touch of a few buttons on your phone you can get mental health support and make connection.
Last year I stumbled on #ForLikeMinds
This nonprofit is amazing. They use social media to get the word out about mental health, but they also have a program where you can send cards to patients that in an institutional setting. Sharing a card can have a wonderful impact on a patient at their lows - offering help, encouragement, and hope. They need our support at this critical and vulnerable time.
References
Basch, Corey H., et al. "How TikTok is being used to Help Individuals Cope with Breast Cancer: Cross-Sectional Content Analysis." JMIR Cancer, vol. 8, no. 4, 2022. ProQuest, https://www-proquest-com.libproxy.troy.edu/scholarly-journals/how-tiktok-is-being-used-help-individuals-cope/docview/2759737459/se-2, doi:https://doi-org.libproxy.troy.edu/10.2196/42245.
posted by soldierdeb at 11:06 PM
3 Comments:
For my undergraduate degree, I wrote a paper on how the Red Cross uses social media to save lives. It was very enlightening. In 2011 one of the employees accidentally posted to the Red Cross' Twitter account. He posted about his night drinking Dogfish Head Midas Touch and tagged the message #gettngslizzerd (Nason, 2011). Management did not fire the employee over the incident, and the Red Cross did respond to the public and ensured Red Cross employees were sober. I did learn many things about how the Red Cross leverages Social Media to help during crises and blood shortages. In addition, people use Social Media for crowdfunding for disasters. My favorite feature Facebook uses to link people is the "mark safe" button. I have friends and family everywhere, and when a disaster or shooting happens, it puts my mind at ease, knowing that I can see which friends are safe. In addition, the help center has a staying safe section that highlights the crisis response center, suicide and self-help response, and safety resources. Since these features came about, I have felt better about my social media presence. Social media has enhanced our lives for the better as long as we continue to educate ourselves and younger generations on the bad and the good.
Hello Debbie, I agree with you. The need for social media and similar technology is necessary in modern day society. Within 30 seconds, thousands if not millions of individuals can be alerted about an earthquake that just took place. This tweet can prepare surrounding areas of an anticipated tremor or earthquake approaching, ultimately saving lives. Although it should not be overlooked that there are negatives that are associated with the misuse and overuse of social media. Mental illness, feelings of isolation, and inadequacy are just a few of the less than savory experiences that one may experience due to overuse of social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Studies have proven this. There is a cure for this of course. It can be an intense cycle, maybe an uphill climb to get to where technology eliminates all of the disadvantages. We must be vigilant and aware of how we consume and use media so that the negatives do not become overwhelming. It is all about moderation and responsible use. The human species has evolved and will continue to evolve; I believe that more good will come from the use of these types of technologies than detriment to our future. Good always prevails! The benefits definitely outweigh the perceived threats and disadvantages, but in order to get to that nirvana state we must do some serious work and prepare young minds how to consume and use responsibly.
I think that Crisis Communications companies and PR proposals are not always made apparent to the public until a major crisis happens and the need for quarantining and other habits that ensure viruses from spreading are made mandatory. The pandemic took a toll on people mentally, physically, and emotionally. Mental illness should be the conversation topic in all discussions that involve self preservation because it is necessary for caregivers and spouses. Broadcasting Communications and Public Communications through emails, text messages and SMS messages, Amber alerts, and PSA announcements are all ways that we communicate strategically with our region. A safety plan for natural disasters and panic rooms are also very common today. I think that as individuals and families within communities, we should always have a Safety Plan in place so that we know what to do if anything happens. I went to Lowe’s and I was looking for safety door knobs, and I didn’t think I would have many options. There were about 70 different safety door knobs to choose from and they were all from different corporations. Crisis Communications included in app development would be a very convenient way to stay in sync with our environment and the alerts that should be in place. I think that these Resources are not always as accessible during crises. The need for anonymity and privacy as far as major disaster and threats is also a huge concern because we are not always connected to the most plausible communications. I think that when we wake up in the morning the choice to either log on to social media or read the daily news is a choice that everyone should make. The same priorities are brought to the forefront as we make a choice to be ahead of the game when disaster arrives. The Tri-State Tornado and the outbreak of 1935 remains the world’s worst day of tornadoes. Thanks to modern forecasting and meteorology catastrophic events without public alerts are almost unthinkable. The global use of smartphones and dissemination warnings are warning coordinations for weather services. For example, if a tornado warning came 7 minutes before a tornado touched down and the tornado lasted for 3 minutes, the weather service’s goal is to provide a minimum of 13 minutes average warning lead time. I read that from an article on USA Today, I think that that was an interesting read especially when insight is common in every day life yet we don’t actually understand it’s utilization in our careers and hands-on Science experiments.
Post a Comment
<< Home