THE ROLE OF NEW MEDIA IN MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v7.i1s.2026.7070Keywords:
New Media, Social Media, Mental Health Awareness, Stigma Reduction, Help-Seeking, Systematic ReviewAbstract [English]
Mental health disorders are a significant concern worldwide, affecting 10-20% of adolescents, with digital lifestyles and stigma exacerbating these issues. This systematic review synthesizes 42 peer-reviewed studies (2010-2025) on new media interventions—such as social media campaigns, videos, and mHealth apps—for promoting mental health awareness. Using the PICO framework, the review examines the effectiveness of these interventions in increasing mental health knowledge, reducing stigma, and encouraging help-seeking behaviors. The findings show that 74% of the studies reported significant knowledge gains (ES=0.42), 65% saw reductions in stigma, and 58% observed increases in help-seeking behaviors, particularly in youth-targeted interventions like #chatsafe and BRAVE. High-income countries dominate the research base (82%), highlighting significant gaps in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Key mechanisms driving success include visual interactivity and peer influence, while challenges such as the Werther effect, ethical concerns, and short-term outcomes persist. The review emphasizes the need for culturally-tailored, co-created campaigns and calls for further research, particularly in LMICs, to enhance the scalability and long-term effectiveness of these interventions.
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