COVID-19: Using Social Media to Promote Mental Health in Medical School During the Pandemic

Sep 11, 2026

Uploaded by Aran

A medical school chapter of APAMSA launched a two-week mental health campaign during the COVID-19 pandemic, using its existing Facebook page to foster meaningful conversations amid social isolation. Faculty and medical students shared coping experiences through written and video submissions, supported by daily mental health challenges and photo responses. Campaign outcomes were tracked via Facebook analytics, with each post reaching about 220 followers and averaging 84 engagements. The initiative provided emotional support, encouraged community connection, and offered practical adaptation tips while highlighting the value of sustained peer engagement.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time1 min

AccessFree to download

The Experience

APAMSA and the Mental Health Initiative

Campaign Design and Platform

Student and Faculty Reflections

Visual Materials and Submission Details

Outcomes and Engagement

Experience COVID-19: Using Social Media to Promote Mental Health in Medical School During the Pandemic Han G. Ngo,1 Brianna L. Gibney,1 Paul Patel,1 Jennifer L. Nguyen.1 The Experience The Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA) is a national student organization that advocates for the health of the Asian American Pacific Islanders. One of APAMSA’s long-standing traditions has been the mental health initiative, where local chapters are encouraged to take action to promote mental health and wellness for their members and communities.1 In May 2020, our APAMSA chapter at Oakland University William Beaumont (OUWB) School of Medicine hosted a mental health campaign titled, “Socially Distant but Emotionally Connected: 6ft Closer During Quarantine” (Figure 1) . Given the coronavirus pandemic and social isolation, we selected our existing APAMSA Facebook page as the platform to host our campaign. The campaign lasted two weeks and featured both written responses and video responses from medical students and faculty who wanted to share how they were coping with the pandemic. The goal was to create a space for everyone at OUWB to engage in meaningful conversations about mental health and support each other during this difficult time. From the mental health campaign, we soon discovered medical students and faculty members had a wide variety of thoughts and tips to share with their fellow peers. One student said,“nothing can quite replace the connection that is felt by the proximity of another person”when remarking on the — at the time — novel quarantine rules. Medical students had gotten accustomed to being around each other at school that we were flustered when isolation initially began. It was especially daunting for some students who were far away from their friends and family. However, the student also suggested that this was a perfect opportunity to reconnect with people one may have not heard from fora long time, saying, “I have enjoyed reviving old conversations and initiating new ones” and “it makes for great storytelling when months and years worth of accrued experiences are showcased in a spontaneous call.” One of the faculty members provided a visceral account of his experience during the pandemic saying, “I would describe myself as often agitated, worried, depressed…numerous adjectives melded into a single troubled state.” He shared familial and work circumstances that had made the pandemic quite troubling for him. This was a tangible and genuine way to understand just how widespread the effects of the pandemic were even as an esteemed faculty member struggled in the same ways us students did. Nevertheless, he had warm words to support the students by saying,“While I have always said ‘my door is always open to you,’ that means little nowadays. Perhaps it’s better to say ‘I’m only an email or a phone call away.’ I have always been andwill always be, here for you.” Figure 1. OUWB APAMSA’s Mental Health Initiative Campaign Poster in May, 2020. Legend: Poster made by Jennifer L. Nguyen. Figure 2. Photo Submissions from OUWB Students During the Daily Wellness Challenge. Legend: One of the daily wellness challenges was to try a new recipe. 1 BS, Oakland University William Beaumont (OUWB) School of Medicine, United States. About the Author: Han G. Ngo, Brianna L. Gibney, Paul Patel, and Jennifer L. Nguyen are second-year medical students at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester Hills, Michigan, USA of a 4-year M.D. program. We are part of the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA). Correspondence: Han G. Ngo Address: 586 Pioneer Dr, Rochester, MI 48309, United States [Email:](Email: hngo@oakland.edu)[ ](Email: hngo@oakland.edu)[hngo@oakland.edu](Email: hngo@oakland.edu) Editor: Francisco J. Bonilla-Escobar Student Editors: Lakshmimathy Subramanian, Nikoleta Tellios Copyeditor: Nicole Katherine Conners Proofreader: Adam Urbac

FAQs

What organization led the mental health campaign and what was its purpose?

The Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA) led the initiative to advocate for the health of Asian American Pacific Islanders and to promote mental health and wellness for members and communities.

How did the campaign work during the pandemic?

The chapter hosted a two-week Facebook-based campaign featuring written and video responses from medical students and faculty, alongside daily mental health challenges and photo submissions.

What results did the campaign achieve according to Facebook analytics?

Each post averaged about 220 followers and approximately 84 engagements, indicating strong participation during the two-week period.

Sep 11, 2026

Uploaded by Aran