Podcasts as a tool for enhancing mental health literacy: An investigation of mental health-related podcasts

Background: Mental health-related podcasts are an increasingly popular medium, however, little is known about the influence of demographic and personal mental health characteristics on listeners’ engagement and experiences. The present research seeks to explore the motivations and experiences of mental health-related podcast listeners. Method: Data was gathered via an online survey (N = 722) and analysed to examine factors associated with participants’ reasons for, and experiences of listening to mental health-related podcasts. Findings: Results indicate that mental health-related podcast listeners’ motivations and experiences are centred around developments in mental health literacy. Participants with the lowest levels of education and mental health literacy reported the most significant benefits from listening to mental health-related podcasts. Conclusion: These findings provide evidence for positive outcomes of listening to mental health-related podcasts. Future research should aim to deepen our understanding of the medium, with emphasis on investigating their potential use as a psychoeducational tool for personal and/or professional development.