To address trauma from media-driven political stress, a mental health policy could focus on these key actions:
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Education on Media Impact: Teach the public about media’s emotional effects and coping strategies, including media literacy to recognize bias and emotional manipulation.
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Access to Support: Provide affordable counseling, support groups, and therapy options specifically for media-induced stress and anxiety.
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Community Resilience Programs: Develop local and online groups for sharing experiences and building support networks for those impacted by media-related trauma.
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Digital Health Campaigns: Promote balanced media habits, screen-time limits, and “digital detox” practices, especially during election seasons.
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Professional Training and Targeted Support: Train mental health providers to recognize media-induced stress and provide tailored interventions, especially for vulnerable populations.
These steps combine education, mental health support, community engagement, and resilience-building to help people manage and prevent stress from polarizing media.