4) Team Lightship: Tweeting Empathy
In our introduction, we briefly understood an introduction to how social media-based marketing at 7 Cups uses a project called Team Lightship.
In this discussion, we will understand how the Lightship initiative works in terms of using tweets for spreading awareness, support, as well as 7 Cups content and other service information. We will also learn how the Twitter platform can be used to outreach to people requiring and in search of mental health support, in order to ensure that mental health is not ignored or stigmatized on social media.
(i) Using Tweets to Spread Awareness, Support, and Content/Service Information:
As previously discussed, the goal of Lightship is to use social media to reach out to those in need using kind and empathetic messages.
General tips include:
-
What you tweet about should reflect the compassionate, supportive, and kind community that 7 Cups is. Use your best judgment.
-
View your Team Lightship account as a force for good, and for spreading the 7 Cups mission and values.
-
Feel free to discuss emotions, situations, and topics that often occur on 7 Cups.
-
You might also want to post/retweet quotes or pictures, and that’s 100% okay! Just remember that reaching out to people should be a priority. Think of how social media graphics can be used in that sense, to engage people.
-
Note: Lightship uses referral links (found on your dashboard page under the list of chats) to direct users to the 7 Cups site.
Tips in regards to which areas or services of 7 Cups you can mention (apart from the general fact about 1:1 or group chats!): Self-Help Guides, Expert Articles, Free Mindfulness Exercises.
Sample Tweets:
Having a tough time? Don't keep it all inside. If you want to talk, we're here to listen 24/7 #7Cups https://www.7cups.com/17156123 #MentalHealthMatters
Need inspiration from people who have overcome Postnatal Depression? Read these stories of women using their recovery to aid others! https://www.7cups.com/experts/postnatal-depression-recovery
(ii) Using Twitter to Outreach People Seeking Support:
The following steps are helpful ways to identify and respond to people seeking support:
-
Search for Keywords
Some keywords or hashtags can prominently help search for people in need of support.
Note: The following and other mental health-related tags on social media platforms can contain potentially triggering content.
-
Prominent Tags: need to vent, need a friend, feeling lonely, anxious, and depressed.
-
Other Tags Examples:
-
#depressed #anxious #depression #mentalhealth (high volume tags)
-
#needtotalk
-
#bullying
-
#chronicpain #chroniclife
-
#coping
-
#peersupport
-
#selfcare
Note: These keywords or hashtags can also be used in your own tweets to help ensure visibility and engagement.
-
Reply to Tweets
After your search for important hashtags and keywords, when you find someone who has tweeted using one of those tags, and looks to be in need of support, reach out to them! Respond to their tweet with a message that includes information about how 7 Cups can support them.
Activity
Using what you learned about the Lightship protocol:
-
Create one general hypothetical tweet that is supportive and compassionate.
-
Respond to this Tweet using the outreaching tips:
3. Reply to one other student’s responses for both (1) and (2) and offer a review about their response: don’t forget to mention strengths as well as improvements they can make!
Please do not forget to personally save your activity answers as well as your reply to another user’s answer (recommended on Google Doc or other means) as you will be asked to share this for your Weekly Progress Report.
-
This post is brought to you by the Content Development and Marketing Program, find out more information about the program here
@SoulfullyAButterfly
Create one general hypothetical tweet that is supportive and compassionate.
Feeling worried or afraid? Are you unable to cope right now?
Talk to someone.
#talk, welisten #wefollowup
Respond to this Tweet using the outreaching tips:
I understand how scary it is with this Covid pandemic. You are right we all need to do our part to keep safe.
Practice mindfulness , @ 7 cups We are in this together. #welovetolisten!
@followup
strength: i love how compassionate the tweet sounds and ends with a persuasive open-ended-question+ suggestion.
Weakness: forgot to mention 7 cups
1. Create one general hypothetical tweet that is supportive and compassionate.
Do you need someone to talk to? 7 Cups is a free community with volunteer listeners ready to lend you an ear : (insert referral link) #YourMentalHealthMatters
2. Respond to this Tweet using the outreaching tips:
I'm sorry to hear you're feeling anxious, this pandemic has been a stressful time for everyone and definitely a learning curve for us all. If you'd like to talk about it, 7 Cups is a free community with volunteer listeners who care about how you feel!
@SoulfullyAButterfly
hypothetical tweet:
ups and downs in one's mental health are just as normal and valid as any other process that makes us human. We, at 7cups.com understand and value you and your struggles, no matter how big or small. Access our Self-Help Guides, Expert Articles, Free Mindfulness Exercises as well as 1:1 chats with volunteer listeners and licensed therapists today to actively take a step toward better mental health! #mentalhealth #depression #vent
response tweet:
I'm sorry that this went down with you. If you're looking for free mental health support online you might want to check out 7cups.com. They offer 1:1 chat support with a team of volunteer listeners and licensed therapists! Along with that, they provide Self-Help Guides, Expert Articles, Free Mindfulness Exercises. I hope you feel better soon!
@Clarisse29
(addition to the hypothetical tweet, my referral click) Access 7 cups here:
https://www.7cups.com/15308953
@Clarisse29
Great work, Clarisse! I really like all the information and sources provided. The personal referral link is a great idea! <3
I liked how you adressed the issue <3
@EmJayyy
I'm not sure why the account name got switched I'm so so sorry, I meant to send that from here.
@SoulfullyAButterfly
Using what you learned about the Lightship protocol:
Create one general hypothetical tweet that is supportive and compassionate
Struggling with mental health? Need a place to talk? 7 Cups has thousands of trained listeners ready and happy to help you out and listen to you! You can check us out at 7cups.com 
Respond to this Tweet using the outreaching tips:
I'm sorry to hear you're struggling with anxiety. 7cups.com has many trained listeners to listen to and support you through this. Come check us out if ya like, we're always here and happy to help out and lend a listening ear!
@SoulfullyAButterfly
Activity
Using what you learned about the Lightship protocol:
1. Create one general hypothetical tweet that is supportive and compassionate.
So sorry to hear that things have been so difficult lately. Remember, you're not alone <3 At 7 Cups, we're here to listen to you 24x7, free and anonymously. We're here for you at https://www.7cups.com/110973508
2. Respond to this Tweet using the outreaching tips:
Sounds like you're feeling anxious because people are not respecting social distancing rules, and understandably so. I feel the same. If you need to talk, we're here and we care. 7 Cups is here to listen to you 24x7, for free and anonymously <3 https://www.7cups.com/110973508
*Grammar and spelling changes (sorry guys, very sleep deprived)
Sounds like you're feeling anxious because people are not respecting social distancing rules, and understandably so. I'd feel the same! If you need to talk, we're here and we care. 7 Cups is here to listen to you 24x7, for free and anonymously <3 https://www.7cups.com/110973508
@SoulfullyAButterfly
Sorry I'm so tired. Here is my final response.
Activity
Using what you learned about the Lightship protocol:
1. Create one general hypothetical tweet that is supportive and compassionate.
I'm so sorry to hear that things have been so difficult lately with your #mentalhealth. Remember, you're not #alone <3 At #7Cups, we're #heretolisten to you anytime confidentially and at no cost because #wecare! https://www.7cups.com/110973508.
2. Respond to this Tweet using the outreaching tips:
Sounds like you're feeling #anxious because people are not respecting social distancing rules, and understandably so. I'd feel the same! If you #needtotalk or are having trouble #coping, we're here and we care. #7Cups is here to listen to you 24x7, for free and anonymously <3
1. Create one general hypothetical tweet that is supportive and compassionate.
I will be with you as you walk on this uneasy path of yours, and I will walk with you about two miles, rather than one mile.
2. Respond to this Tweet using the outreaching tips:
A: Anxiety happens when one feels angry. It is important to stay healthy under this circumstance. So, it is important to keep distance with people, yet, still having good conversation with them.
@loveagape
I love how in the first one you say how you will be there for the person, only thing I'd add to that is maybe a hashtag so people can find it and maybe a link to 7cups so they can find support there too.
For the second one I love how you say that even though we should be apart, we need to be close conversationally. The only thing I'd add again would probably just be a link to 7cups.
Great job, both sound amazing!
Create one general hypothetical tweet that is supportive and compassionate:
We've all had bad days, but we often keep them to ourselves. That can make them worse though, so don't keep it to yourself. Talk to a supportive, confidence listener today at 7cups of tea. We'd love to get to know you! 7Cups of Tea
#needtotalk
Respond to this Tweet using the outreaching tips
Sounds like you're frustrated because people aren't social distancing. Want to talk? Well 7Cups would be a great place to vent your frustrations! 7Cups of Tea #covid #anxious #needtovent
1. Create one general hypothetical tweet that is supportive and compassionate.
Did you lose a loved one recently? You don't have to deal with your pain alone. At https://www.7cups.com/19512880 you can get the love and support you deserve, anonymous and free. #grief #pain
2. Respond to this Tweet using the outreaching tips:
The situation with Covid-19 has brought out negative emotions in all of us. Sadly, some people are acting irresponsibly and endangering others in the process. At https://www.7cups.com we understand your fear and we are here to support you and listen to you anytime! #covid19support
Hello @MizuKagami
Both your tweets are super kind and compassionate <3 They display empathy and talk about real issues. I like the way you included the links and hashtags in your tweets. However, I believe you could add some hashtags other than pain and grief as well. Some positive ones like in your second tweet- #Covid19Support. Otherwise, I find your tweets to be well-written and precise. <3
@SoulfullyAButterfly
Create one general hypothetical tweet that is supportive and compassionate.
Let's find our safe place, our happy place. A place where no one judges you; a place where you can be the real You. A place called 7 Cups! It is a free and anonymous site where you can talk to people without being judged. #WeAreHereToListenNotJudge
Respond to this Tweet using the outreaching tips:
Your feelings about the pandemic and concerns regarding social distancing are valid. You are not alone in this. We are all here for you. We are all in this together. If you wish to talk about this, come to 7 Cups. #WeAreHereToListenNotJudge