Today is October 10th, which marks World Mental Health Day.
In everyday hustle and bustle whether it is work from the office or home, looking after your family and their needs; taking care of oneself becomes an issue. We read and hear about how having a healthy diet and doing exercises or yoga regularly is important to maintain your physical health. But this regime falls short when you are not the best in terms of mental being.
Pandemic and mental health
Due to working from home which has erased the thin line between personal and professional life, mental health is easily neglected. Which is why it even becomes more important to keep an eye on mental wellness. The pandemic has had a negative impact on the mental health of people all around the world increasing the burden for those already facing serious challenges. Even if people are aware of the importance of mental health, with a difficult working environment it becomes tough to look after your mental wellness. At such times, entertainment mediums prove to be rewarding. It not only entertains us but also gives us the needed knowledge about things that we might not be aware of.
Podcasts and mental health
In today’s digital era, people can connect more with like-minded individuals through podcasts. Its consumption also increased without increasing the already alarming screen times. Through podcasts, one can learn more about mental health issues and can also learn to counter these with self-care and practical strategies. They can also know more about renowned psychologists and their work; even understand it through the ones who experienced it firsthand. Just knowing that others have had similar experiences gives you a certain validation and makes you feel less lonely.
However, it is also to be noted that podcasts can never replace professional therapy.
GenZ and mental health podcasts
Podcasts have become an important source of information for young listeners.
According to Spotify reports, 80% of GenZ listeners said that audio “allows them to explore different sides of their personality”. Among them, the mental health genre is prevalent, rising 54% since 2021. GenZ and millennials prefer content that can be accessed as per their terms and devices that are convenient to them. The overall GenZ podcast consumption is said to have increased by 62%.
Though mental health should be our utmost priority, it is still not considered an important issue and is generally shrugged away in some households. With more and more celebrities and influencers talking about mental wellness on social media, these topics are now being touched upon, not necessarily in a good way. But now that mainstream media along with new media platforms like podcasts and other social media are connecting people all around the world and building up a community to talk about niches, mental health is getting acknowledged.
If you also want to use the podcasting medium to talk and educate people about physical or mental health, reach out to AudStory to start your podcasting journey now!
We hope you are happy and at peace. On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, we wish you all a healthy mental life.
Happy podcast listening!
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