NAMI Partners with Instagram to Support Mental Health During COVID–19

Apr 6, 2020

Instagram and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) are partnering to share resources to support mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

During this crisis, many people are looking to Instagram for connection, inspiration and ways to maintain their mental health. That's why we want to make sure people have ways to feel connected to their communities and get help from others. With so many people stuck inside, and often in isolation, we also want to help people find accurate, reliable mental health information.

Through this partnership, we will distribute expert guidance and recommendations on Instagram to help protect mental health during social distancing.

Instagram is developing illustrated versions of NAMI’s recommendations for supporting mental health. Together, we partnered with Gunner (@gunneranimation), an animation studio in Detroit, Michigan, to create animations of NAMI recommendations for supporting mental health during this time. Tips include:

• Maintaining your normal routine
• Remaining connected to friends and social networks despite physical distancing
• Limiting news intake if you find it triggering.

NAMI’s Instagram account @NAMICommunicate will also help you find mental health resources by creating a week’s worth of positive content and education, which will be shared via Instagram Live discussions between Instagram creators and NAMI experts, as well as takeovers of NAMI’s account. Topics will range from:

• Conversations with experts on how to deal with stress at this time
• How to adapt to your “new normal” through supportive coping mechanisms
• Positive activities to keep you moving, inspired and distracted, such as cooking or art

Throughout the week, the Instagram official account @Instagram will also be sharing content around supporting mental health, including resources from NAMI.

We hope these resources will promote positive mental health and make the time we’re all spending inside, or in isolation, a bit easier to manage.