TikTok launches youth initiative to promote mental wellness

Social media app TikTok has launched an initiative, Youth for Good, to promote mental wellness among youths in Singapore. 

A collaboration between the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Ministry of Education and National Youth Council, Youth for Good will equip Singaporean youths with tools, resources and the platform to raise greater awareness about the social issues that affect their peers today. 

From now till May 31, Singaporeans aged between 19 and 34 can apply to become a wellness educational content creator via TikTok’s app.

Over eight weeks from Jun 28 to Aug 22, participants will undergo a specialised training programme where they will be empowered to leverage on the various tools, features and trending challenges on TikTok to create relatable educational content. 

They will also learn how to provide support and strength to their peers who may be struggling with mental health, experiencing bullying or feeling unsure of how to deal with traumatic experiences such as harassment. 

Other local non-profits organisations such as CARE Singapore, TOUCH Community Services and Samaritans of Singapore will also join this programme to lend their expertise in the industry. They will guide youths on the kind of content they can focus on when creating short-form videos, such as stigmatising words to avoid. 

Ms Sun Xueling, Minister of State for Education said: “Through TikTok’s Youth for Good initiative and through the spirit of peer support, we can spark a ground-up movement to normalise conversations around mental health and cyber wellness.”

Andrea Chan, Assistant Director of TOUCH Mental Wellness, a service of TOUCH Community Services, added: “We are heartened that the educational videos we have created have encouraged vulnerable youths to take the initiative in calling our TOUCHline for help.”

In celebration of global Mental Health Awareness Week last week, TikTok launched its #mentalhealthawareness educational campaign to encourage users to share inspiring video stories and offer support to each other in their mental health journey.

In a press release, TikTok said: “Continuing from the Youth for Good initiative and its partnerships with non-profit organisations, TikTok calls out to more (mental health professionals) to create a safe online space where people experiencing distress and trauma can share their personal struggles and recovery journeys freely, find communities of support and break through the walls of social stigma.”

For more mental well-being resources, click here.