TikTok launches new mental health awareness hub

Short-form video platform TikTok announced on Monday that it’s launching a new mental health awareness hub to help its users easily access more information about well-being topics, engage with advocates and support organizations that offer valuable resources. Users can check out the new hub by heading to the #MentalHealthAwareness hashtag page and clicking on the link in the description there.

‘’At TikTok, we’re proud to be a platform that offers a safe place where people feel comfortable sharing their personal stories and openly discussing well-being, and we’re constantly inspired by our community’s support for one another,’’ the company said in a blog post. ‘’This #MentalHealthAwareness Month, we’re announcing the launch of new initiatives aimed at promoting positive mental well-being, combating stigma, and providing support to our community.’’

The ByteDance-owned company said that it will update the new hub throughout this month to feature educational videos, creators of mental health-focused content, and organizations that aim to raise awareness about mental health.

In addition to the new hub, TikTok announced that it’s donating more than $2 million in ad credits to organizations that support mental well-being, including.

• Alliance for Eating Disorders (@alliancefored)
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (@afspnational)
• Crisis Text Line (@crisistextline)
• Made of Millions (@madeofmillions)
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (@nami)
• National Eating Disorders Association (@neda)
• Peer Health Exchange (@peerhealthexchange)

The company also stated that throughout May, it will spotlight 10 creators ‘’who use TikTok to educate the community on #MentalHeathAwareness and have made a significant impact both on and off the platform over the past year.’’

These creators include:

• @asoulcalledjoel
• @dr.kojosarfo
• @elainaefird
• @elysemyers
• @joelbervell
• @lindsay.fleminglpc
• @nutritionbykylie
• @thepsychodoctormd
• @therapyjeff 
• @victoriabrowne

Furthermore, TikTok added that it will organize a series of TikTok training sessions to provide its partners with necessary tools to share information with their communities at important times, such as World Mental Health Day and back-to-school season.

The news comes at a time when TikTok is facing potential nationwide bans over worries that it could share citizens’ sensitive data with the Chinese government. The app has also repeatedly come under fire over the effects it has on younger users.

Last month, the Information Commissioner’s Office of the U.K. fined TikTok $15.8M for misusing children’s data, and a Portuguese NGO filed two lawsuits against the company saying it ‘profits from children’.