Today, we're launching new initiatives to champion wellbeing and enhance reliable mental health information from trusted sources on TikTok. We're launching in-app guided meditation exercises for our entire community and expanding our Mental Health Education Fund.

Bringing in-app meditation to our entire community

We recently announced a feature test to encourage young people to switch off at night. In our testing, 98% of teens kept the meditation experience switched on.

Research shows us that mindful meditation can improve sleep quality in people of all ages. We have introduced the industry's first-ever Meditation in Sleep Hours to all our users, regardless of their age. For teens under age 18, it will be turned on by default. If a teen decides to use TikTok after 10 pm, their For You feed will be interrupted by a guided meditation exercise, helping them wind down for the night. If a teen decides to spend additional time on TikTok after the first reminder, we show a second, harder-to-dismiss, full-screen prompt. Adults can turn on Sleep Hours at any time from the Screen Time settings page.

Launching the 2025 Mental Health Media Education Fun

We've recently unveiled a $2.3 million donation in ad credits to 31 mental health organisations in 22 countries around the world as part of our Mental Health Education Fund. In combination with the training provided by TikTok, this funding will help these organisations create even more informative and engaging mental health content for audiences globally.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the organizations benefiting from this support are:

  • The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (@SADAG_Official) - The South African Depression and Anxiety Group is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to raising awareness about mental health. It operates several programmes, including a national toll-free helpline, community outreach and referrals to mental health professionals.
  • Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative - Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative is a youth-led grouping of young people and volunteers challenging stigma around mental health in Nigeria. Forming part of West Africa's largest mental health network, it conducts awareness campaigns, offers crisis support services and mental health workshops in schools and workplaces.
  • Mental360 Kenya - Mental 360 promotes mental health among young Kenyans by focusing on inclusivity when advocating for broader access to mental health services. Its initiatives have provided mental health services to people experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety and depression.

We created the Mental Health Education Fund in 2023 to support organisations in creating authoritative, engaging and uplifting mental health content. The Fund has helped organisations gain more than 173 million impressions on their content, more than 600,000 new followers for their accounts, prompted more than 200,000 web visits, and helped recruit 486 new volunteers, thanks to a combined $7.3 million in donations.

Fatima Seedat, Development Manager at the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), "TikTok has truly transformed how SADAG connects with people and the impact we can make. The World Health Organization estimates that one in four individuals globally will experience a mental health disorder in their lifetime. Platforms like TikTok enable us to share crucial information and vital resources that are not just helpful, but genuinely life-saving. We recognise the importance of meeting young people where they are, on platforms they enjoy. A single TikTok post allows us to reach millions, significantly boosting our awareness campaigns around anxiety, depression, and other conditions for entirely new audiences. This digital visibility seamlessly translates into tangible, real-world support through our extensive network of mental health professionals."

Mental360 Kenya's founder and executive director, Bright Shitemi was once part of the statistical cohort of 1 in 4 Kenyans who researchers indicate will struggle with mental health at some point in their lives. Shitemi said, "Mental 360 started because I found that I wasn't the only one going through difficulties with mental health. What I did learn, however, is that too many of my peers were suffering in silence. This work has taught me about the importance of community and togetherness when pushing back against depression, trauma and stress disorders, because when we find ways to come together, true healing can begin. I have learned and been enriched by communities on TikTok, and we are looking forward to using it to expand the reach of our community wellness centres and spread hope and healing to more Kenyans."

Founder of Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative, Victor Ugo, "Post by post, TikTok is showing a whole generation of young Nigerians that they don't have to do it all alone. From the struggles of studying and getting an education to the mental health battles we face, this platform is showing us the power of community. MANI aims to be at the centre of a new era of mental health awareness in West Africa. Achieving such a momentous shift means we have to find new ways to communicate, break down the stigma and eradicate the sense of fear that comes with speaking up about mental health. This platform will be pivotal in helping us accomplish this goal."

By bringing guided meditation to everyone on TikTok and further supporting the work of mental health organisations around the world, we're once again demonstrating the positive power of the TikTok community. Whether it be through #GivingSzn charity drives, STEM feed learning moments, or responding to AMBER alerts to help recover missing children.