Lisette Kaleveld: Taylor Swift helps shake off stigma
![Taylor Swift is not only interested in painful, dark times; her songs and narratives speak to the path out of them.](https://images.thewest.com.au/publication/C-13575587/281438aa9fc5ff262051e49e049ccc5b4a60df11-16x9-x224y0w1900h1069.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3)
It isn’t clear exactly how robust the evidence is, but it isn’t difficult to find a Taylor Swift fan (or a parent or a psychologist for that matter) who agrees that she has a welcome positive influence at a time when young people are under enormous pressure.
The ABS’ National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing shows that the mental health of young Australians has declined dramatically over the past 20 years, with young women more likely to be affected. New data from the annual Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia report shows almost half (42 per cent) of people aged 15-24 were psychologically distressed in 2021, up from 18 per cent in 2011.
There’s no argument that high quality mental health care backed by evidence and delivered by professionals is always best. However, our experience at the Centre for Social Impact UWA in partnership with the Western Australian Association for Mental Health in co-designing mental health support frameworks with young people illustrates how much Taylor Swift resonates with this cohort’s needs. We also know that traditional mental health system responses are failing to reach young people in quite the same potent and impactful ways. Here are four reasons the queen of pop is rocking our headspace.
Smashing stigma
Research shows that about half of the young people who experience mental distress will not seek help because of stigma or a lack of understanding from adults, like teachers and sometimes even health service providers. Reducing this stigma isn’t easy for most adults - you really need popstar power to cut through the deep fears that prevent our youth from speaking up about mental health.
Taylor Swift has actively promoted mental health, but not in a “celebrity meets cause” kind of way. Her own personal disclosures and song lyrics directly reference struggles with several of the pointy-end issues that young people are prone to, such as eating disorders, body image issues and sexual harassment, giving her credibility.
Recovery orientation
A recovery-oriented approach to mental health care builds on individual strengths, emphasising hope, goal-setting and self-management. This holistic approach is important especially for mental health conditions in young people which often emerge at the same time as difficult life transitions, and when young people do not necessarily want a label.
Taylor Swift is very clear that setbacks are moments of growth, not the end of days. Emerging research suggests that too often people try to help young people with their mental struggles through an over-emphasis on fixing problems and removing risks. But enabling young people to experience adversities (such as loneliness or rejection) in a supportive environment is a developmental task that actually facilitates positive mental health.
Taylor Swift is not only interested in painful, dark times; her songs and narratives speak to the path out of them. The result is a public persona that conveys a mix of vulnerability and strength. She normalises life adversities and inner demons while also being absolutely OK and rising again for the next chapter (or era).
Dealing with online culture
We are in the midst of a sweeping cultural upheaval, with huge chunks of our lives now mediated through interactive technology. Research indicates this is contributing significantly to young people’s poor mental health.
Neither Taylor Swift nor the mental health system can fully protect young people from negative experiences and behaviours that occur online, but young people do need “way finders” and supports. Taylor Swift is the big sister figure who understands the 24/7 pressure to be Insta-worthy, the harms of online harassment, being trolled aggressively, online bullying and social alienation through technology use — and is overcoming this.
A trusted and relatable role model
Many young people are not comfortable with the idea of clinical intervention, or may have had bad experiences in the past. While co-designing mental health supports with young people at the Centre for Social Impact UWA, we consulted with youth representatives about what attractive, effective alternative supports might look like.
Some young people say they definitely do not want specialists and experts coming into their lives with solutions. What they are looking for are trusted role models, who are not solely focused on mental health, but who can relate to them in different ways.
They need safe, kind adults (not parents or teachers) to share experiences like playing sport, video games, or art, and who are also highly literate in mental health concerns, non-judgmental and empathetic, able to draw on their own experiences of tough times.
That does sound like everything Taylor Swift likely represents, at least in the fan base imagination.
Persistently high levels of distress in young people suggest that our current system is not working effectively to address their needs. Maybe taking a page out of the Taylor Swift songbook can’t hurt at all.
Dr Lisette Kaleveld is a social researcher at the Centre for Social Impact UWA.
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