The mental and emotional health sphere on social media is unlike any other. It is multifaceted, purpose-driven, and uniquely creative. We are innovators who do more than just post—we change lives.
Some background on me (@hannahdblum). Mental health activism is at the core of who I am, both as a creator and human. I’m the author of “Oh Mind, Where Have You Gone Today?” and have a decade of experience working as a social media specialist, creating viral content for businesses, brands, and high-profile clients in the mental health field.
In this article, I’ll share how to create your dream mental health content for Instagram in 2024. We’ll cover trending topics, viral reel strategies, graphic posts, and the tools you need to grow your account.
Creating Content For Your Mental Health Instagram
While aesthetics and style are important, Content is the foundation of growth on Instagram. In 2024, users consistently show they care more about substance over style. This is where your creativity comes to life.
“Content copy” refers to the text or written material that is created for use in various forms of media. Create a document and start brainstorming ideas, taking notes and creating a list of viral topics, as well as copy for your posts.
Explore The Mental Health Creator Space
Exploring content should be the first step! It will spark ideas to help you nail down what you want to create and the topics to discuss.
It’s as simple as going to your explore page, putting in a keyword such as mental health in the search bar and browsing the inspirational posts by other creators. Look at the comment section, and ask, What is it about this post that people are really connecting with? This will give you an idea of what users need and want when scrolling. Jumping on trending topics is something all creators do, but be original and put your own unique spin on it.
Mental Health Content In 2024
Reels, Reels, and More Reels
Reels reign supreme on Instagram. Static posts are still popular, so don’t panic if you’re not comfortable with videos yet. However, you can also turn static posts into reels. Reels are very diverse, everything from podcast clips, text reels, voiceovers, quote/poetry reels, direct to camera, interviews and much more.
Tips For Creating Viral Reels
Time: Keep it under 1 minute. The shorter the better.
Editing: If you’re doing something like a voiceover or adding broll to your video, do quick cuts between clips. It creates movement and keeps viewers engaged. I usually don’t leave one shot of footage on screen for more than 3 seconds. The editing app CapCut is great for editing directly on your phone. Premiere Pro is a bit more advanced, and mainly used by professional video editors.
Format: Always put in the correct dimensions. For reels it is 1080 X 1920.
Captions (on the reel): Utilize text on screen for viewers to really follow your message if you’re speaking to camera.
Use Trending Audio: Utilize trending audio and music if it makes sense for your reel. How do you find trending audios? Check out what audios are being used on viral videos. Also, if you see a little arrow by the music or voiceover that means it’s trending.
Emotional Health Reels
I spoke with one of the biggest creators in the emotional health arena, Sarah Snow (@iamsarahsnow). In 2024, her unique videos skyrocketed, gaining global attention for their visual artistry and powerful messages. Videos that have 3+ million reel views, When You Give Too Much, and I’ll Be Okay, Even If…
In just 90 days, she gained 106,000 followers organically. It’s one of the fastest-growing accounts I’ve come across. So, what is it about her videos? They are relatable and engaging, with quick cuts, high-quality production, and captivating visuals. They tackle attachment in relationships, loneliness, heartbreak, and emotional health. Her unique style, relatability and powerfully poetic messages make her videos stand out. I asked her what advice she’d give to other creators:
“By staying consistent, you’ll form better habits around creating. I chose to stick with 1 video a week no matter what I had going on that week. Some weeks, I didn’t want to post at all, but I did it because I committed to doing so. Creating when you ‘don’t feel like it’ makes you go from an amateur to a pro.
By being honest while creating your content, you never have to worry about new ideas, sticking to trends, and putting out the “best” video. If you can say “I showed up honestly, I did the work” – you’ve already won. The right people will follow.”
Note: Pay attention to the catchy title on her thumbnail. This is so people immediately have an idea of what the video is about.
Getting Personal With Content 2024
People are craving real content and connection, which is why personal reels receive high engagement. However, you should post what feels comfortable. Getting personal isn’t required to grow your account.
Creators, including mental health professionals, are getting more personal in their content. One of my favorite accounts and a great example is @the.truth.doctor, a therapist who opens up about her own mental health challenges.
Another incredible influencer who is famous for her content, and a leader in the body image movement is Danae Mercer (@danaemercer). She started out just like you, looking to inspire. Her unapologetic mindset and vulnerability continues to help her grow into the millions.
Photo Carousels
Photos with text in the form of a carousel post have become very popular in 2024. The title graphic is usually a photo of the creator, followed by imagery with text on each. Sharing a singular photo with a personal caption also brings in engagement.
Graphic Carousels
Carousels are still super popular. Definitely consider posting at least 1-2 of these a week depending on what your goal is. The style is not as important as the topic and title. Here are some posts I found that do a great job of creating carousel posts.
Trending Topics in 2024
The fun part! Choosing topics. It takes time, a lot of brainstorming and experimenting. Again, let the explore page give you some guidance. Learn from other creators. Here are some trending topics in mental health in 2024.
Mental Health Humor
Mental health humor via memes or reels is trending heavily in 2024. For many people, humor is a way to cope. Getting a laugh out of things we may feel alone in, or ashamed about, is very freeing. I personally love these!
Template Trends
Take a look at what I refer to as “template trends.” These are frames of videos that thousands of creators will use on their content. If you keep up with your explore page, you will catch a template going viral. Utilize it. This template is being used across Instagram by users about women’s mental health, If only there was a page dedicated to women’s mental health…
Should I share my mental illness on social media?
A lot of my art is rooted in my life with bipolar disorder. I decided to open up about this publicly when I first started my social media. People ask me all the time, should I share my mental illness?
As much as I want to say “go for it,” it comes with major risks. Unfortunately, stigma is still severe enough that it can impact your life and livelihood, including your job. It is something you’d want to think about seriously, understanding the potential risks. In 2024, we still struggle with accepting mental illness.
Titles, Style and Design Creation
Titles are important on graphics. Think about viral blog post titles. You want it to be catchy and get peoples attention. Example: If you’re talking about anxiety instead of titling it “Symptoms of Anxiety” change it to something more engaging and catchy such as “This Is What Anxiety Really Looks Like…”
Where Do I Design My Content?
Canva is awesome for designing posts easily and efficiently. It is a great tool and it shares templates and elements that will give you the tools to design your dream content.
Fiverr or Upwork are freelance service platforms where you can hire and work with graphic designers. This does cost $$. I’ve hired designers before for clients. Just make sure you read their reviews, look at their portfolio and ask them to send you samples.
Style of Graphics
What do you want it to look like. Simple? More artistic? Colorful? Infographics? I would create about 3-5 different templates for graphic posts. This includes creating a color pallet and having a consistent font selection. I shared some I designed myself on Canva to show you the range of design.
Growing Your Gram
If you go along with the guidance from above, experiment with different content and most importantly, remain consistent, you will grow.
Consistency
Bottom line, consistency is what will grow your account. I would suggest trying to post at least 5-7 times a week especially in the beginning. The algorithm basically wants you to show you’re a consistent user before it increases your reach.
Engagement
Responding back to comments on your posts, and replying back to DM’s. Be genuine. Sometimes, I like to use the persons first name (if it’s available) in my response, so they feel seen more personally. They are not your followers, they are part of your community.
InstaStories
Utilize InstaStories to engage with your audience. Do polls, pose questions, ask for suggestions and share your life. Create a connection and give your followers a voice. It’s also where you want to share other creators’ content that you are loving.
Collaborate and Support
Follow, tag, share, comment and engage with the content and creators you vibe with. Be genuine. Sliding into DM’s praising their content immediately followed by a request for a collab comes off disingenuous. Build a connection first. Utilize the Instagram collaboration feature on a post or reel. This means your content will be shown on both your feed and the co-author. This is especially good if you do an interview or reel with another mental health creator.
I’ve built so many solid and personal connections with many creators in the inspirational and mental health content world. Supporting one another is crucial.
Create A Strategy
You may want to create a social media strategy, especially if you want to get deeper into the marketing of your page. You can use management platforms such as Hootsuite, and Buffer. I personally do not use these tools for myself just because I like to do things manually. However, it’s just a personal preference for me.
If you want to learn more about strategies, heres a good article, “How to Create a Social Media Marketing Strategy in 9 Easy Steps”
Analytics
Check your analytics weekly on Instagram, which provides you that data. Make sure you’ve switched from a personal account to professional/business account. Go to your Dashboard and you’ll see the analytics for your account. Check what posts gained you the most followers and the content with the most shares.
5 Things To Remember…
1. Set reasonable expectations. Instagram has made it a bit more challenging to grow in 2024. Focus on content, and the following will come. It’s going to take time. It’s a journey, so have fun with the process.
2. Do NOT buy followers. In 2024, everyone has caught on to the purchasing of followers. Vanity metrics are what we call this in the social media sphere. It will hurt your credibility, decrease engagement rates, and if Instagram notices your deception, you could lose your account.
3. You can buy the blue check now! I suggest waiting until you have a consistent page established. If you have under 1,000 followers, people may assume you bought it, which can seem disingenuous. Build traction on your page first.
4. Be Responsible and Be Real. You are allowed to be bold and unapologetic, just be aware of triggering content (you can add a warning in your caption or text on screen). Be authentic always.
5. Have FUN! We are in the most beautiful creative brilliant sphere! Let this be a fun journey, not one that stresses you out. I took two years off building my own account because I was so burnt out. Although it affected my following, I had to do it, so don’t lose yourself in the process. The moment you start becoming obsessive about likes and follows, take a step back.
Send me a DM if you liked this article on my page @hannahdblum. I want to see your content!
As a professional social media specialist, I offer consultations for anyone trying to create or build their social media page. For inquires, email hannahdblum@gmail.com.
My new book, “Oh Mind, Where Have You Gone Today?” is a collection of poems and essays delves deep into the soul, exploring themes of madness, mental health, mending, love, loss, patriotism, sensuality, womanhood, and the intricate tapestry of humanity!
Blooming Mind Press 
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