Navigating identity and mental health on Instagram: Edu-fluencers in the Asian American Pacific Islander Community

Abstract

Counselors and other mental health professionals use Instagram for brand-building and disseminating information on mental health and counseling resources. This study was an exploratory mixed-methods analysis of Asian American/Pacific Islander mental health edu-fluencers to understand their post content and user engagement over the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. We describe post content and present analyses of variance results to compare user engagement. Implications of social media use are discussed for mental health professionals and researchers.