Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/958890
Well Being Trust | Annual Report | Social Engagement 17 Successfully advancing a culture of well-being in the nation requires the meaningful engagement and activation of people. Each of us is the front line of neighborly compassion and loving kindness that makes the difference in support and resiliency. It is we the people who, as community members, are the heart of our democracy. Effective engagement in community and civic life is a prerequisite for healthy communities and a vibrant nation. Together it is our voices and hands that shape change. We are meeting people where they are—at home, at school, at work, in the coffee shop, in the car or on the bus—to build a distributed force of community leaders. Our working premise: You are not alone! A challenge we embraced in year one was to amplify the existing social movement focused on removing the stigma of mental illness and help it grow with diverse voices and life experiences. To amplify a social movement means joining people where they live, work and commune. It means meeting them where they are and engaging with them on their terms. One of those places is on social media. We use social media for every part of our lives—in our personal relationships, for entertainment, at work and in our studies. To put it into context, every minute, people around the world collectively send more than 35 million messages through Facebook and Instagram and post 500,000 tweets. Social media doesn't just impact our lives from an entertainment and networking perspective; it helps us tackle some of the world's biggest challenges. From human rights violations to climate change, and now building awareness for mental health and wellness and removing stigma, social media is a powerful vehicle for movements that change attitudes and behavior. Connecting all our work creates the opportunity to both share and engage through social outlets. Our strategy in this space is to engage people within the social platforms they are currently using to start a conversation about mental health, with the aim to normalize it, encourage wellness and resilience, and fight stigma. Through the use of helpful information, storytelling and user- generated content, we have begun a strong foundation for the #BeWell, #BeHeard, #BeThere movement. SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT