Social media guidance

Our social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok and Instagram) are a way for you to share your views about children and young people’s mental health.

Social media is public so please do not post anything you’re not comfortable sharing with a wide audience. What you write could potentially be read by anyone, for years to come. The same applies to photos.

We may have to delete some comments on our social media if they break our house rules, or to keep you safe.
We don’t provide direct support or advice on any social media platform – and if you mention that you or someone you know is at risk, we will pass these details to people who can help.

We receive a lot of requests to post information about projects and events. Sadly, we can’t post them on our social media unless YoungMinds or one of our partners is directly involved.

Social media is public. Sharing information on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok or YouTube is like having a conversation in public – so please think before you post. It is also a good idea to check your own media settings, make sure your social networking profile is set to private or friends only. You should also know how to block someone on a social networking site and if necessary report them.

If you say anything to us on any social media platform that suggests you or any other person is at any risk of harm, and we see it, we will have to pass it on to someone who can help.

This includes if you mention:

• abuse
• self-harm
• feeling suicidal
• neglect
• domestic violence

If you talk about these things, our helpline might contact you directly – or we might need to contact someone else to help keep you safe. This can include the emergency services or other people who can help you.

We will delete comments on our social media posts that could upset other people visiting the page. This includes:

• suicidal messages
• comments about harming (or wanting to harm) other people
• insults or threats
• bullying or aggressive behaviour
• racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic or other discriminatory remarks
• swearing
• if you link to something inappropriate

The following material is not allowed on the YoungMinds social media pages and will be removed if posted:

Anything that may in any way breach any law.

Unlawful, fraudulent, abusive, derogatory, libellous, deceptive, inaccurate or defamatory statements, spam or attacks that will or are likely to harm, harass, upset, embarrass, alarm or annoy any other person, whether towards Young Minds, other posters or any other person or organisation.

Impersonating any person or misrepresenting your identity or affiliation with any person (including implying that such content emanates from us, if this is not the case).

Content posted in breach of any legal duty owed to a third party, including a contractual duty or duty of confidence.

Anything that conflicts with our objectives and/or standards below.

Any material that contains viruses or any other harmful programs or similar code designed to adversely affect the operation of any computer software or hardware.

We may update these House rules at any time. You are expected to check this page to take notice of any changes we make, as you are legally bound by them.

We also encourage you to let us know if any of the content or comments on our pages violates the social media platform’s Terms and Conditions. Any specific queries related to the social media platform’s Terms and Conditions should be raised with the platform directly.

All posts on the YoungMinds social media sites must be accurate when stating facts and comply with all applicable laws, both in the UK and in any country from which they are posted. We will also delete posts that advertise commercial products that are not related to YoungMinds.

Please note that copies of every posting on the YoungMinds social media sites, including responses made, are public. Comments and posts made on the Young Minds social media sites, including those removed and any response made, may be held in off-line files. Information posted here may be passed to relevant authorities and organisations, whether by YoungMinds, or other readers of the page. We may use comments and posts on YoungMinds social media sites for marketing purposes.

Please also note that we have no obligation to monitor, moderate or oversee any interactive features we provide on the YoungMinds social media sites. We hereby expressly exclude our liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any interactive features by a user in contravention of our standards, whether the features and any content therein are moderated or not.

YoungMinds is a registered charity in England and Wales (number 1016968) and Scotland (number SC39700) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England No 2780643 at YoungMinds, 4th Floor India House, Curlew St, London, SE1 2ND.