Combatting health misinformation: YouTube Health asks McMaster University to produce bilingual mental health videos

When YouTube launched its YouTube Health initiative in 2023, one of the inaugural sources of accredited health information was the channel run by McMaster University’s faculty of health sciences in Hamilton, Ont.Now, the faculty is expanding their involvement with YouTube Health. The video-streaming site asked the faculty to produce additional long-form and short-form bilingual videos on 14 health topics. Topics will focus on mental health, and include mood disorders in adults and children, eating disorders and substance use and addiction.YouTube Health highlights content from credible sources in an effort to give people access to reliable health information. Videos have a banner that reads “from an accredited healthcare provider of Canada,” with a link leading to how YouTube defines credible sources of health information. Read: What on Earth is YouTube Health?“We are thrilled to evolve our partnership with YouTube Health,” said Gillian Earle, director of strategic communications and digital engagement for McMaster University’s faculty of health sciences. “This bilingual approach reflects McMaster University’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, recognizing the importance of providing health information in multiple languages.”The faculty will collaborate with the university’s department of French to produce the French videos. "This partnership with McMaster University’s faculty of health sciences underscores our commitment to providing Canadians with access to high-quality mental health information in English and French on the platform," said Soneeka Patel, YouTube Canada’s health lead in a press release by the university.The Ottawa Hospital also produces health videos in French and English for YouTube Health on their channel. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) also produces bilingual videos on mental health on YouTube.Dr. Siobhan Deshauer, an Ontario-based internal medicine and rheumatologist, is accredited on YouTube Health as a healthcare provider. Dr. Deshauer, who posts as ViolinMD, did her residency training at McMaster University. The videos are available on McMaster University’s faculty of health sciences’ YouTube channel. View one of the videos—this one on bipolar I disorder—below. Read: Risk of health misinformation growing as more Canadians turn to the internet for medical advice, CMA survey warns

Combatting health misinformation: YouTube Health asks McMaster University to produce bilingual mental health videos

Register for free access or login.

Related Topics