Horizon and YouTube partnership continues with mental health and addiction videos for Canadians

(HORIZON) – Horizon is continuing its partnership with YouTube Health to increase access to trusted health content and reduce the spread of misinformation in Canada and across the globe, by shifting its focus to mental health and addiction programs, services and topics.

“This is an exciting opportunity to provide more resources on addictions and mental health for New Brunswick, and to raise awareness of the great people and services already devoted to addressing these needs for our community,” said Natasha Lemieux, Vice President Community for Horizon Health Network. “We at Horizon are also proud that this information will help to debunk myths, reduce stigma and support those affected by addictions and mental health across Canada.”

Horizon began creating health content in partnership with YouTube in late 2023 with a series of videos about health conditions commonly searched on YouTube by Canadians. Videos approximately five minutes in length and accompanying YouTube Shorts were created in both French and English on 27 health conditions. Since the project’s launch in October 2023, the educational videos have reached over 281,000 viewers across YouTube and social media channels.

The addiction and mental health phase of the project launches during National Addictions Awareness Week (November 24 to 30) with two videos on Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), a topic that is particularly relevant to public health in 2024. What Is Opioid Use Disorder? A Physician Explains and Opioid Use Disorder: Treatment options feature Dr. Heather Logan, Family Physician with Community Addiction and Mental Health in Fredericton.

Included in the 17 topics to be covered by the new series are ADHD (Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder), Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Schizoaffective Disorder and Substance Use Disorder in the ways it is experienced by users of alcohol, crystal meth and marijuana.

“This new series of videos will serve both patients and their families as they navigate their journeys with mental health and addictions, and the public at large as they search for credible information relating to concerns like the opioid crisis in our communities,” said Kathleen Buchanan, Executive Regional Director of Addictions and Mental Health. “Viewers will gain a deeper understanding of these disorders, their treatment, and how we can all work together to support healing.”

For easy access to these resources, all new videos will be housed along with videos on the 27 previously covered topics on Horizon’s YouTube channel (@HorizonNB). Viewers can subscribe to the channel and receive alerts when new content is added.

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