There are several mental health hashtags you can and can’t use on Instagram.
Are you a mental health blogger? Do you work in the mental health industry? Or do you use your Instagram to create awareness about mental health?
I’ve compiled a list of mental health hashtags for you to use on Instagram for more engagement, as well as the hashtags you shouldn’t use.
How to use hashtags on Instagram
Hashtags are similar to keywords used in social media, to find specific content. The best way to get your Instagram content seen, is to use hashtags.
The maximum amount of hashtags you’re allowed to use is 30. Some people prefer to use less, so that it doesn’t look spammy but I personally like to use all 30.
It means more of your target audience will find you and engage with your content.
I tend to put my hashtags as a comment on my Instagram post and make sure to add the comment as soon as my post is published.
If you’d rather put your hashtags in the caption, adding a few lines of text before the hashtags will make it look less spammy in your followers feed.
Try not to use the same combination of hashtags for every single post. Instead use different combinations for different subjects.
I save all my combinations of hashtags as notes in my phone, so it’s easy to just copy and paste them as they’re needed.
Mental health hashtags you shouldn’t use
Instragram has been banning a lot more mental health hashtags lately.
Hashtags like mentalhealth, anxiety, depression, selfharm and hashtags relating to eating disorders such as thinspo have all been banned.
This is to protect users of Instagram from being bombarded with posts that are encouraging of self harm. It’s really unfortunate for people who want to use a simple #mentalhealth hashtag to talk about their mental health but the few who use it to promote self harm have ruined it for the many who use it for good intentions.
As Instragram are often changing which mental health hashtags are banned, you can test to see if your hashtag is banned by searching the hashtag, then clicking on “recent”, if nothing shows up then unfortunately you cannot use it.
If you frequently use hashtags that are banned, your risk your posts not showing up at all in other searches and you’ll find yourself shadowbanned.
Mental health hashtags you should use for Instagram
Here is your list of mental health hashtags that you should use:
General mental health hashtags
#mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthrecovery #mentalhealthsupport #mentalhealthwarrior #mentalhealthadvocate #mentalhealthquotes #endthestigma #selflove #mentalhealthstigma #mentalhealthawarenessweek #mentalwellness #breakthestigma #mentalstrength #mindset #mentalhealthblogger #mhblogger #mentaldisorder #mentalillness #itsokaynottobeokay #hereforyou
Anxiety hashtags
#anxietyquotes #anxietyrelief #anxietyhelp #anxietydisorder #anxietysupport #anxietyfree #anxietyawareness #anxietyattack #anxietyrecovery #anxietywarrior #anxietyproblems #anxietyfighter
Social anxiety hashtags
#socialanxiety #socialanxietydisorder #socialanxietyproblems #socialanxietymemes #socialanxietyprobs #socialanxietythings #socialanxietyqueen #socialanxietyquotes
Self care hashtags
#selfcare #selfcaretips #selflove #selfcarematters #selfcarefirst #selfcaresaturday #selfcareday #selfcaresunday #selfcareroutine #selfcareisntselfish #selfcareeveryday #selfcareissacred #selfhelp #loveyourself #selfcareritual #selfcareselfie #selfcareissexy #selfcarecoach #selfcareideas
Wellness
#wellness #wellnessjourney #wellnesscoach #wellnesswednesday #wellnessday #wellnesslifestyle #wellnessblogger #wellnessadvocate #wellnesswarrior #wellnessweekend
Mindfulness
#mindfulness #mindfulnessmatters #mindfullnessmeditation #mindfulnesspractice #mindfulnessmoment #mindfulnesscoach #mindfulnessquotes #mindfulnessmonday
Personal development
#personaldevelopment #personaldevelopmenttime #personaldevelopmentjunkie #personaldevelopmentdaily #personaldevelopmentiskey #personaldevelopmentjourney #personaldevelopmentgoals
Make sure the mental hashtags you use are relevant to your post, don’t just use the most popular ones for the sake of it.
The more engagement you get, the better, so when your hashtag is targeted to the right audience, your more likely to get people actually engaging with your post.
Hope this helps! Feel free to follow me on Instagram and leave your Insta in the comments so I can follow you back 🙂
Related topics:
How To Start A Mental Health Blog
10 Mental Health Blog Topics You Could Write About
10 Blogging Secrets I Wish I Knew Before I Started
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This is very helpful, thank you! I haven’t really gotten started yet with Instagram but I am @aboutsocialanxiety
You’re welcome, I’m glad it was helpful.
This is really informational and its going to help me a lot. I’m often unsure of what hastags to use on my social media posts. Thank you for this! My Instagram is @join_tmp.
I’m glad this post was helpful Erika! I’ve sent a follow your way 🙂
Very useful. I’m thinking of starting an instagram account. Shame some things are banned when people are just trying to help others.
Hi Jo. It is a shame but I can definitely understand why they have done it, as so many people were using those hashtags to promote self harm.
Hopefully these hashtags will be super helpful! Just followed you on Instagram! 🙂 Mine is _girlvsworld_ x
I guess I don’t really understand them banning seemingly harmless hashtags such as #mentalillness. I understand that it’s said to reduce promotion of selfharm, but in reality it seems to me that those wanting to promote self harm could easily shift to a seemingly harmless hashtag that isn’t banned. Then soon all hashtags relating to mental illness will be banned.
I definitely agree that it’s a shame. A lot of people have spoiled it for those of us who want to use the hashtag for good reasons.
Hey Kelly,
Shreya here. I am a motivational speaker sharing inspirational quotes everyday on Instagram everyday through my handle – @inspirinotes. I explored your blog today and found it to be so well-written. It really shows how much you care. Definitely following you on Instagram.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with the world and helping others.
That’s an amazing advice. Do follow me at @anxiousbuttercup26
Hi Kel,
Thank you so much for your post! I just started on my instagram account about wholesome wellbeing and your tips were really helpful! Please give me a follow if you can @deardignifiedbeing.
Thank you!
This has been sooooo useful. Thanks so much for the heads up on those hashtags not to use. Thank you x
Hi, this is extremely helpful. I have recently started an instagram account @mentalhealthmatters.ets and I mainly want to encourage people to not be ashamed if they are struggling, and that asking for help and being vulnerable is such a strength. You are not alone in this and even though I may inspire one person, it will still make feel better.
Thank you so much for Amazing advise. And how to overcome on Anxiety and depression during this bad times covid-19.
I came across your website through Pinterest and I find your hashtag tips helpful. Thank you very much. I am a newbie freelancing and I chose Social Media Management to pursue, and about mental health awareness as my niche. I too am a mental health advocate.