Using social media to track mental health trends in communities
SCH: Advancing Language-based Analyses of Social Media to Reliably Monitor Variation in Population
This study is looking at how we can better understand mental health, like anxiety and depression, by analyzing what people say on social media, so we can get quicker and more local insights into how different communities are doing.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stony Brook, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10752686 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research aims to improve how we measure mental health in populations by analyzing language used on social media. It seeks to gather more frequent and localized data on mental health issues like anxiety and depression, moving beyond traditional annual surveys. By developing advanced methods to analyze social media content, the project will provide a clearer and more timely understanding of mental health trends across different communities. This approach will help identify not only mental health challenges but also protective factors that contribute to psychological well-being.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living in diverse communities who actively use social media and may experience mental health issues.
Not a fit: Patients who do not use social media or those living in areas not represented in the study may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective public health interventions by providing real-time insights into community mental health.
How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in using social media data for public health monitoring, indicating that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
Stony Brook, United States
- State University New York Stony Brook — Stony Brook, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schwartz, Hansen Andrew — State University New York Stony Brook
- Study coordinator: Schwartz, Hansen Andrew
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.