Fostering mental well-being awareness and literacy with the World Health Organization
From celebrating authentic stories to breaking stigmas and empowering resilience, we’re committed to nurturing a supportive community where people can openly share their well-being journeys and access trusted resources. Today, we’re partnering with the World Health Organization (WHO) to create reliable content and combat misinformation through the Fides network, a diverse community of trusted healthcare professionals and content creators.
Through this partnership, Fides network creators in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Mexico, and Brazil will be joining TikTok to create and promote evidence-based content. We are also making a $3M donation* to support WHO’s global work in destigmatizing mental health conditions and creating an informed, empathetic, and supportive online community.
Building trust and making a difference with the Fides network
WHO’s Fides network has been instrumental in mobilizing health content creators to counter misinformation and elevate evidence-based content. With a community of over 800 content creators reaching millions of people across various platforms, Fides has shown that targeted, credible communication can make a significant difference.
Through our collaboration with WHO, we will be engaging Fides creators to translate complex scientific research into relatable and digestible video content, expanding across various health topics. To further equip creators, we will be working closely with WHO to provide access to creator training programs and resources.
“Millions of people come to TikTok everyday to share and find community in all areas of their life, including their well-being, and we strive to ensure they can find reliable information on this important topic. That’s why today we are delighted to be partnering with the World Health Organization’s Fides network of healthcare content creators, to further strengthen this commitment by bringing engaging and authoritative mental well-being content to our community,” said Valiant Richey, Global Head of Trust and Safety Outreach and Partnerships, TikTok.
Get to know these Fides creators who are dedicated to raising awareness around mental health and well-being.
As a leading psychiatrist, researcher and award winning content creator, Dr. Judith (@drjudithjoseph) is dedicated to providing you with groundbreaking insights and practical tools that are helping millions to unlock a new world of mental wealth and personal growth.
“Social media is a powerful vehicle for transporting information about mental health symptoms and conditions. In many cultural groups, discussing mental health topics is considered taboo. When creators use platforms to bring about awareness with regards to mental health content, this helps to decrease the stigma. As a professor who teaches doctors how to use social media to educate the masses, I’ve encountered numerous stories in which patients recognized their own symptoms through social media and subsequently obtained the support that they needed. In many cases, social media has saved lives through storytelling and mental health advocacy. As a researcher, I use social media to provide evidence-based content to my audience, bridging the gap between the scientific world and the community,” she said.
Timothy Tiutan, MD or “Dr. Tim” (@doctor.tim.md) is a board-certified internal medicine physician, assistant professor, author, and media personality based in New York City. While working at one of the top cancer centers in the world, he has amassed nearly 2 Million devoted followers across his social media platforms. Whether through his long-term partnerships with non-profit organizations like the American Cancer Society or his impactful work as a CBS News Contributor, he has become a credible authority figure in all things health. Dr. Tim has quickly become an international pioneer for a new age in health education.
“The WHO Fides network is a group dedicated to combating misinformation, advocating for public health, and fostering global collaboration. By bringing together thought leaders from around the world, the network plays a crucial role in disseminating evidence-based information that can empower communities to live healthier lives. The network tackles global health challenges in an era where access to health information has dramatically evolved. WHO Fides is a driving force in shaping a healthier, more informed global community for the future.”
Avisha NessAiver (@distilledscience) is a scientist specialized in translating complicated research into accessible language–with a special focus on fighting health misinformation, which he has been doing with the World Health Organization as part of Fides and the United Nations as part of Team Halo. His videos have received over 100 million views across a range of platforms.
“The Fides network is the catalyst transforming isolated scientists and health experts into a powerful collective force, armed with shared knowledge and strategies to effectively combat the spread of health misinformation.”
Click here to learn more about the Fides network’s ongoing initiatives.
Supporting our community’s mental well-being
As a platform that brings together over 1 billion people around the world, we’re committed to helping our community address well-being by fostering a supportive environment for conversations on this topic and providing access to reliable information and resources.
From our Safety Center to in-app PSAs, we provide access to reliable sources of well-being information. We’re proud that our Safety Center guides on topics related to mental health and well-being serve as a resource for more than 500,000 people each month. Additionally, last year we went further to ensure that when people search for terms linked to conditions or illnesses such as depression, anxiety, or autism, among others, they will be directed to reliable information provided by the National Institute of Mental Health and the Cleveland Clinic.
At TikTok, our community’s well-being, both online and offline, matters to us. We work closely with experts, partners, and mission-driven organizations around the world to share authoritative information, provide access to well-being resources such as our Well-being Guide, and continue to foster a supportive online community.
*TikTok’s US$ 3 million donation is a combination of cash (US$1.5 million) and ad credits (US$1.5 million).
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