Anna Bailie 

Research

Title of Research:

A Politics of Isolation and Empowerment: Young People's Mental Health on Social Media.

Brief overview of research topic:

Mental health on social media is an isolating and empowering experience that offers information and knowledge but establishes norms and ideas. It can be utilised by young people in positive and negative ways. Ultimately, it is extremely powerful in reinforcing ideas of individualism, capitalistic investment and social norms of mental health. Essentially, there are people who challenge this and encourage social media to be a place where experiences can be shared, learned from and community can form. Social media platforms have become central in shaping contemporary discourse on mental health. They offer a complex landscape where individuals can engage in conversations about their mental well-being, providing a platform for the exchange of information, experiences, and support. However, this environment is far from monolithic; it presents a duality where mental health content and discussions online can be both isolating and empowering. In these analytical chapters, I will explore how social media's influence on mental health extends beyond mere communication, affecting the establishment of norms, and ideas, and reinforcing concepts such as individualism, capitalistic investment, and societal norms. Crucially, how the platforms are utilised by community activists who challenge society’s structures that impact mental health.

Instagram @mentalhealthpolitics

Qualifications

Qualifications:

MA in Social Research (University of York)

Recipient of White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership Scholarship (Economic and Social Research Council ESRC).

BA in Social Anthropology (Queen’s University Belfast)

Presentations

• Speaker: The Researching Brexit Conference 2019, Queen’s University Belfast, U.K., Hosted by the Nine Doctoral Training Partnership (NINE DTP).
• Host: “Women in Politics” Workshop / Seminar 2020, with Dr Nina Casperson, Dr Alex Hall and Dr Sara De Jong Hosted online for Women and Non-binary PGRs and Staff at the University of York Politics Department.
• Host: “Coffee Morning with Women in Politics: Empowering Women, Empowering All” with Anonymised Afghani Refugee Speakers and Dr Saba Joshi at the University of York with The University of York Student’s Union for International Women’s Day 2022.
• Speaker: The WRDTP annual conference 2022, University of Sheffield, U.K., hosted by Stefania Vicari for the Data, Communication and New Technologies Pathway.
• Speaker: “Wine and Cheese Night with Anna Bailie: Manifesting Responsibility: Mental Health and Politics, Instagram Influencers, and the Young Person’s Healthy Self” October 2022, University of York, U.K., hosted by the University of York Politics Society.
• Panel Member: The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Health and Wellbeing Forum for Youth, Talk on “Going digital to improve the health of young people” with WHO Europe, Tirana International Hotel and Conference Centre, Albania. October 2022.
• Panel Member: Mental Health Week in Athens, Panel on “Spotlight on child and adolescent mental health in Europe” with WHO Europe, Stavros Niarchos Cultural Centre, Athens, Greece. November 2022.
• Panel Member: The Second Meeting of The Pan-European Mental Health Coalition and the Annual Conference for “Social Inclusion of Persons with Mental Disabilities”, Panel on “Giving voice: tackling stigma and discrimination” with WHO Europe led by Sue Baker OBE, J.W Marriott Hotel, Ankara, Turkey. November 2022.
• Workshop: Youth Participation Strategy Development Workshop, led by the Mental Health Flagship team, with a presentation from Petra Gronholm, King’s College London. World Health Organisation, UN City, Copenhagen, June 2023.
• Speaker: Beyond the Screen: Exploring the Digital Society 2023, University of York, U.K., hosted by the University of York Sociology Department, Keynotes from Professor David Beer, and Dr Jennifer Chubb. July 2023.
• Journals and Publications: Peer Reviewer: Contention (Journal) 2021- Present.

Teaching Experience

Support Worker / Specialist Notetaker: York St John’s University, 2021/2022

Role: Supporting undergraduate second-and third-year law students with hidden and visible disabilities with their academic studies by providing note-taking and pastoral support. Attending and recording lecturers and assisting in seminars.

Teaching Assistant: St John’s School, Kempston July 2013

Role: Work experience in a school for children with severe disabilities, working with students ages 7-13 with severe autism and challenging behaviours (including one-to-one and group work).