#IHMayDay: tweeting for empowerment and social and emotional wellbeing

Abstract

Objective:

This paper examines the themes of #IHMayDay, a day-long Twitter discussion about Indigenous health led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on 1 May 2014.

Method:

The Symplur analytics tool was used to identify the Twitter activity associated with #IHMayDay. This paper reviews the content of 423 tweets that were tweeted and retweeted by 346 individuals and 108 organisations.

Results:

Issues related to social and emotional wellbeing were dominant, and the analysis highlights the empowering nature of the strengths-based discourse.

Conclusions:

Twitter-based events such as #IHMayDay and initiatives such as the rotated, curated account @IndigenousX are powerful platforms for learning, exchange, advocacy and dialogue about the social and emotional wellbeing and mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Keywords

Indigenous health social and emotional wellbeing Twitter decolonising innovation

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