Horizon Health Network expanded YouTube partnership includes playlists on teen mental health, first aid

The Moncton Hospital, part of the Horizon Health Network, is shown in Moncton, N.B., Friday, Jan. 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ron Ward

New Brunswick’s Horizon Health Network is expanding its partnership with YouTube Health Canada with two new video playlists designed for teen mental health information and first aid content.

The playlists will “combat health misinformation and provide trusted, accessible information on teen mental health and first aid topics,” a news release from Horizon said.

Horizon partnered with YouTube Health Canada in October 2023. The health authority said by December their channel will have 246 patient education-focused videos, including 61 different topics covered.

The long-form and short-form videos will be available in French and English.

“We know the Internet, and specifically sites like YouTube, are where a lot of people are seeking out health information. We have to be on there with content they can trust,” said Paul Greene, Horizon’s vice president communications. “By leveraging YouTube’s insights on what Canadians are searching for, we’re able to create content that directly addresses their questions with evidence-based information in a format that’s engaging and easy to understand.”

The teen mental health playlist will be the first series created by Horizon specifically for youth aged 13-to-17. Videos in the playlist will address topics including vaping, ADHD, depression and anxiety. The videos will be presented using language and visual presentation tailored to a young audience.

The partnership will allow Horizon to focus on topics that are relevant to teens and help break stigmas surrounding mental health, Kim Foster, Horizon’s Regional Director of Child and Youth Services said.

“It provides teens with a springboard for starting conversations and offers families, teachers, and even our own practitioners, additional resources to enhance their understanding of these complex topics,” said Foster.

The videos are being shared throughout schools and organizations across the province.

The first aid playlist will include videos educating viewers on emergency topics such as performing CPR and determining between life-threatening situations and those that can be safely managed at home.

“Our ongoing collaboration with Horizon Health Network showcases what happens when trusted institutions meet audiences where they are,” said Dr. Garth Graham, director and global head of YouTube Health. “In just two years, Horizon’s video content on YouTube has reached millions of viewers, demonstrating the power of making high-quality, evidence-based health information accessible at scale. These new teen mental health and first aid shelves help to ensure viewers find trusted guidance from partners like Horizon.”

All videos, including the new Teen Mental Health and First Aid playlists, are available on Horizon’s YouTube channel (@HorizonNB).

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