Social media can be a negative place. According to research by the Royal Society for Public Health in conjunction with the Young Health Movement found Instagram to be the most detrimental social media platform to people's mental health. Using social media can affect significantly impact your wellbeing which can lead to depression, body image issues and more. 

However, social media can be a positive tool when used in the right way. Social media can do good by helping users to:

• Building relationships and staying connected
• Finding your voice
• Showing empathy and kindness
• Offering Support
• Better communication
• Spreading news
• Building a business
• Establishing authority

To help make sure that social media is a positive place for you, we suggest unfollowing anyone who makes you feel bad about yourself, even if unintentionally. Instead, we would advise following some of these accounts instead which are sure to put a smile on your face.

Positive people to follow on social media include:

• Ourhuddybuddy - advocate, education and celebrate differences. 
• Romansjourney - little boy who is defying the odds. 
• Kabs Family - offer some feel good family-friendly content.
• Heads Together - aim to change the conversation around mental health. 
• Young Minds - The UK’s leading mental health charity for young people offering advice and support. 
• Mind - offers mental health support for those who need it.
• Happiness project - spread awareness of mental illness, equal and human rights and everything else that matters. 
• Martin Lewis -his tips are really useful and helpful especially for those who need financial support.
• Dylan Mulvaney - Talks about her ongoing transition and about mental health.
• PostSecret - a platform where you can share secrets anonymously. 
• The Sumo Guy - shares short, inspirational, positive and realistic messages - especially on Instagram.
• Dr Alex (Love Island) - is very open and talks positively about mental health.
• Georgie Moseley - Founder of Help Harry Help Others, our Charity of the Year and all round inspiration.
• Obama - continues to be an exceptional leader and influencer despite no longer being president. 
• Ben Francis (Gymshark) - inspirational entrepreneur from the Midlands.
• Steven Bartlett - promotes positive mindset and challenging yourself to be the best you can be. 
• Viola Davies - shares the most inspiring, feel-good and funny content
• Good Boy Ollie - a chocolate Labrador completes an activity each Sunday from his jar.
• The Female Lead - all about female empowerment. They cover some really interesting topics. 
• Vicky from Geordie Shore - shares lots of body positivity content and very relatable.

Alternatively, you could do what our Associate Director, Hannah, did and delete social media entirely which she said really helped her.

If you have any other accounts that you think are worth a follow, then please feel free to share them in the comments below. Let’s all help one another!