In Conversation With Clover Stroud
On July 5th in London online influencers are coming together for an interactive panel discussion to talk about the issue of mental health on social media. Influencers have been thrown into a position of responsibility with their followers. The ‘Becoming A First Listener’ event will equip influencers with a digital “Mental Health First Aid Kit”. Empowering them with the correct tools and resources to become a “First Listener” — so they can better support themselves and their community with some of the mental health challenges that occur. We’ve interviewed one of our panelists, Clover Stroud for her views on mental health and social media.
- Why is raising awareness of mental health so important to you?
I’ve faced different mental health challenges since I was a teenager, and as I go into my forties, these challenges certainly don’t go away, although they do change. Nothing is more important than physical health, and that includes mental health, something, thankfully, we’re all waking up to. This is a good moment to broaden the debate about how we can work together for a happier, saner future.
2. What extra challenges do you think social media has created for mental wellbeing?
It’s incredibly hard not to fall into the comparisons trap. Instagram is a wonderful platform in so many ways for connecting people, but there’s no escaping the fact that it feeds into insecurities about the life we’re leading: it’s hard not to look at someone else’s squares and think, are they doing this thing called life better than me? In those moments, it can feel impossible to keep a perspective and remind yourself that Instagram is life, but a heavily, heavily edited version of life. None of us live life through a Perpetua filter, however much we like to give the impression of it. Social media is a fantastic tool for connecting, empowering and vocalising, but understanding that it’s a tool, rather than real life, feels more important than ever.
3. What advantages has social media had in conversations about mental health?
Social media allows us all to take part in a conversation, and that’s a great thing. The fact we all can step up to a platform and have a voice is empowering, but it’s how we use that voice that matters now. Your voice on social media has the ability to get right inside another persons head: we can use that to positive effect, if we choose, but anyone who has experienced the effect of trolls will also know that this can be really dangerous.
4. As an online influencer, what issues do you notice within your community that you would like support with?
As the mother of five children, aged 1 right up to 17, I’d like to help support both other mothers, and their kids, use social media to positively engage with and support one another.
5. What one thing do you think bloggers and influencers can do to better support their own mental health or that of their followers?
Engaging positively with followers almost always brings great results: a short conversation or shared experience that reminds one another that we’re real people behind these squares. Other than that, we all know the value of switching off, regularly, to take time to connect and communicate with the real people around you right now
