May 2020 - Webconsuls

Celebrating Mental Health Month | Our Mission

Thursday May 28, 2020

Reading Time: 9 minutes

1 in 5.

1 in 5. That’s the number of Americans who have a diagnosable mental illness right now. As you’re reading this article, friends, colleagues, and total strangers are dealing with the symptoms associated with anxiety, depression, and myriad other disorders. Many of them have experienced traumatic events at some point in their lives. It’s impossible to tell someone’s mental health from a glance.

1 in 5 – 20% – is anything but a small amount. On average, people in the U.S. spend 20% of their day watching television. 20% of dogs are adopted through friends or relatives. 20% of college students use Snapchat. These numbers are enough to indicate powerful trends in a group’s priorities and well-being. So why is mental illness such a hush-hush topic?

The answer is the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health in America.

Stigma is when someone sees you differently – in a negative light – because of a mental illness. Discrimination is when you’re treated differently because of it. Humans are social creatures, and our group dynamics can be extremely influential. Social stigma and discrimination often make mental health problems worse and stop people from accessing the help that they need. For many, the only way to learn more and seek professional help is to perform a quiet, confidential search on the internet.

At Webconsuls, we hope to make mental health care available by promoting the services of accredited, evidence-based treatment centers from all corners of the United States.

“Do I Have Depression?”

Life insurance agency TermLife2Go used Google Trends to determine which mental health symptoms Americans were searching most frequently on a state-by-state basis. They found Washingtonians looking into internet addictions, Louisianans Googling postpartum depression, and West Virginians worried about mood swings. Many of these symptoms – particularly California’s concern about intimacy issues and Tennessee’s searches for low libido – are considered too taboo to be discussed with others.

In another study, researchers found that in the United Kingdom, someone Googles “depression” every two seconds.

For the search-minded among us, these trends probably come as no surprise. Google is the first place that younger people turn to for any type of information, whether it’s a niche sports stat or celebrity gossip. It stands to reason that we’d also find it natural to consult a search engine about concerning health issues, especially since unlike doctors, Google is available 24/7. However, the truth is probably more complex than that.

The perceived stigma around mental illness cannot be overstated. Mental health challenges are more complicated than most people realize; while they’re increasingly common, even the most confident individuals balk at the idea of widespread knowledge of their mental illness.

Dr. Jeanette Downie, Deputy Medical Director for the Priory Group, says, “I get some people (fairly high powered business people or people who are well known) who are terrified of people finding out and feel that they have absolutely ‘failed’ by being ill, and they often wait until they are really unwell before they come for help. People simply wouldn’t feel the same about a physical illness, like a heart condition.”

Mental Health Month was created to address this exact phenomenon.

About Mental Health Month

Beginning in the 1940s, Mental Health America and other groups began to observe Mental Health Month each May. By holding educational seminars, hosting events, and sharing resources to social media, this observation has spread throughout the United States. Key mental health services, such as screenings and informative programming, are provided each year. Ultimately, the goals of Mental Health Month are to educate the public, assist individuals in accessing care, and to dismantle the stigma surrounding mental illness in America.

Mental Health SEO: Ensuring Good Organizations Rise to the Top

The sheer volume of searches for mental health concerns speaks for itself. However, it comes with a sense of social responsibility – what happens if someone is directed to a fraudulent treatment center, or a scammy directory in which companies pay for referrals? At Webconsuls, we have made it our mission to help legitimate, accredited organizations to break through this noise. In doing so, we hope that those in need of help will be able to access high quality care.

Today, any drug and alcohol addiction treatment centers wishing to advertise on Google, Bing, or Facebook must achieve LegitScript certification. In order to gain this credential, a center must be properly licensed, have proof of a physical location, present policies demonstrating a commitment to best practices, and submit to a background check for all employees – among other requirements. We guide eligible companies through this process, helping them to reach those in need of treatment. In turn, fly-by-night organizations drop in ranking, preventing vulnerable people from falling victim to a scam.

When you’re seeking help for mental illness, it’s essential that you’re able to access factual information and evidence-based care. We’re here to help you along the way.

Webconsuls is a full-service digital marketing agency with offices in Nashville, TN and Los Angeles, CA.

Reading Time: 9 minutes

Life in the Time of COVID-19 (& Also Tornadoes)

We’ve come a long way since March.

First, let’s acknowledge that in the past few months, we’ve had our lives turned completely upside-down. People all across the globe have dealt with strict “safer at home” orders, the sudden need to homeschool, and the abrupt closure of beloved establishments, among other unprecedented stressors.

In Nashville, things have been particularly tough. On the night of March 2^nd, a deadly tornado outbreak affected Middle and West Tennessee. In storms ranging up to EF3 and EF4 ratings, 25 people were killed, 300 injured, and more than 70,000 lost power. As local businesses and residents in East Nashville, Germantown, North Nashville, and Donelson worked to bounce back from the destruction, coronavirus set in.

When you lay it all out like that, things may seem overwhelmingly bad. The devastation caused by not one, but two major events has definitely challenged our state and its residents. However, this is exactly when good news becomes important.

Finding the Silver Lining

Bad news isn’t just upsetting – it can be detrimental to your mental health. In their recommendations for daily life and coping during COVID-19, the CDC recommends moderating your media diet. They state that watching, reading, or listening to news stories (even on social media) can be upsetting, triggering feelings of stress and anxiety. It’s not uncommon to develop concerns about protecting oneself or one’s family from the virus, or to feel distressed by the statistics surrounding coronavirus.

However, it’s important to remember that even as negative news events gain widespread coverage, acts of human kindness are everywhere – especially in the state of Tennessee. Many of us have personally witnessed these ourselves, whether in the form of volunteers sewing masks or friends picking up groceries for elderly neighbors. In these weird and wild times, there’s something comforting about the Volunteer State living up to its name.

In honor of Mental Health Month and Nashville’s volunteer spirit, we’ve compiled some of our favorite uplifting stories of human kindness during COVID-19. We hope they inspire you to believe in a brighter future for all of us.

Nashville Tornado Relief Efforts Continue

While sympathetic hugs or politician’s handshakes are now out of the question, tornado relief efforts have continued in spite of COVID-19. More than 500 people were accommodated in hotel rooms provided by the Red Cross, since mass shelters were not an option, and they have been fed catered meals delivered to the hotels (instead of at a large kitchen). Other volunteer organizations are making similar accommodations, restricting the number of people on a job site to the bare essentials. While logistics have gotten more complicated, volunteers continue to work hard to help their fellow Tennesseans to recover.

Support from Public Figures

Celebrities have gotten in on the relief efforts too. Country star Brad Paisley and his wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, have opened The Store, a free grocery open to those in need. The goal of this nonprofit is to enable food-insecure Tennesseans to shop for groceries with dignity and respect. Volunteers, interns, and staff have mobilized in the face of COVID-19, delivering food to high-risk elderly residents in affected communities.

Similarly, Oprah Winfrey has sought to support Nashvillians, particularly those in poor minority communities who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. She has called Nashville her foundation, donating $2 million to provide immediate food relief to underserved communities.

Drive-Through Graduations

In lieu of traditional cap and gown ceremonies, Nashville-area schools have transitioned to drive-through graduations for high school seniors, middle school graduates, and even younger children. For all, this event marks an incredible milestone that should be celebrated by other students, parents, and members of the community. A video of Pearl Cohn student Dontrail Spencer’s emotional graduation ceremony has gone viral, and for good reason – it demonstrates just how important these parades can be.

A Semi Truck Dumped Like 40,000 Pounds of Mac & Cheese on I-24

This one is more of a side note. Is this technically good news or a story of human kindness? No. Did this ridiculous headline make us laugh? Yes.

Photographer Raises Money for Nashville Humane

Local photographer Wendy Jo O’Barr has begun offering pet portraits to raise money for the Nashville Humane Association during COVID-19. Her professional photographs are taken from a safe distance, but they capture the unique personality of each animal – and raise funds for those in need.

Running Errands for High-Risk Neighbors

East Nashvillian Sarah Townsend Smith posted on social media asking for high-risk neighbors to email her with any errands they needed done. She received an outpouring of support from others who wanted to help pick up groceries and prescriptions for those in need. Today, she’s connecting high-risk individuals with a large pool of volunteers, making a difference in countless lives each day.

Brighter Days Ahead for Nashville, TN

Whatever your experience during the coronavirus outbreak, we hope you’re safe and able to seek out good news like the stories above. These are just a few of our notable mentions – there are countless more… you just have to look for the silver lining.