Worldview Studio

Worldview Studio is exploring the dynamics of brain and mental health influencers (BMHIs) on social media and their impact on mental health discourse. Worldview Studio will investigate the motivations, needs, and expectations of both BMHIs and their followers, as well as the perspectives of healthcare professionals, to understand the role social media plays in shaping mental health conversations. The project will use a combination of qualitative methods, including interviews, video diaries, and ethnographic observations, to analyze how BMHIs create content, engage their audiences, and influence mental health-related behaviors. Key outputs will include a thematic report on BMHIs and the brain and mental health social media landscape, as well as insights to inform future pilot interventions and strategies for engaging online brain health communities. Supplemental funding provided in 2025 supports an expanded scope of work, enabling deeper engagement with influencers and followers as well as identifying emerging influencers from groups not typically represented in neuroscience and brain health research, particularly within non-English-speaking language social media communities.  

By focusing on trust and community within mental health social media spaces and collaborating directly with influencers, followers, and healthcare professionals, this project supports the Dana Frontiers objectives of promoting multidirectional engagement and cultivating trust to deepen public engagement with neuroscience and mental health.