How to Raise Awareness for Social Anxiety Disorder

Social Anxiety Disorder or SAD (also known as Social Phobia) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders which affects many people worldwide. Unfortunately, many people don't know about or understand SAD, so the level of suffering, preoccupation, and inhibition that people with social anxiety experience often goes unrecognized. To raise awareness you can spend time volunteering with a mental health organization. You can also participate in various fundraising activities. [1]

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Donating Your Time to Awareness Activities

  1. You can find a list of mental health organizations in your area by searching online for “mental health non-profit" and the name of your city. Then, make a few phone calls to see which organizations have opportunities for in-person volunteering.
    • Volunteer to pass out flyers or leaflets at a public gathering area, like a mall, or door-to-door. Man the booth for a mental health organization at a local festival and share information with the patrons who stop by. Offer to answer phones at a local mental health charity organization.
    • Make sure to work with a team or partner when passing out information, especially going door-to-door, for safety reasons. You might also want to wear a t-shirt with an organization logo.
    • Participating in an information pledge campaign is one way to raise awareness for SAD. With these campaigns you agree to research and pass along knowledge regarding mental health concerns. [2]
  2. Run a 5K or 10K for anxiety awareness. Take on a challenge, such as parachute jumping, and publicize it to get public attention for mental health treatment. Once you connect with an organization, look at their events calendar to see what might appeal to you.
    • Events are often linked to specific weeks or months. For example, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) observes a mental health week in October that includes a focus on Social Anxiety Disorder. [3]
    Advertisement
  3. Use all of your social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), as outlets for information and stories regarding Social Anxiety Disorder. Try to post at least one item every day, or if you are more frequently online, maybe raise it to five items of interest. Make sure that you get your information from reputable sources, so that your readers will trust you. [4]
    • Diversify your posts in order to reach a wide variety of audiences. Reach out to teens, older adults, etc., as all sorts of people can find information on Social Anxiety Disorder useful.
    • Keep a hopeful and helpful tone when writing your post. You might offer stories of people living fulfilling lives with social phobias or even celebrity testimonials. You especially want anyone dealing with Social Anxiety Disorder to know that they are not alone.
  4. There are many online (and some print) publications and blogs that will accept guest author articles and posts. Find a site that discusses mental health concerns and submit a piece of your writing to it. For example, if you have SAD, you might write about how you were diagnosed. Anxiety UK, among other groups, often solicit personal reflection stories.
    • Don’t be discouraged if your writing is not accepted immediately. Revise your piece to reflect any criticism that you may receive. Keep submitting and you will eventually find the proper venue.
    • Help spread the word by also subscribing to and then forwarding any SAD or mental health organization newsletters that you receive. For example, “Triumph” is the newsletter for the ADAA and contains a wide variety of useful information for those interested in learning more about anxiety.
    Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Fundraising to Support Mental Health Organizations

  1. There are many websites that will allow you to create fundraising campaigns for a variety of causes. Crowdrise and GoFundMe are two of the most well-known sites of this nature. Post your information and requests on these sites and then ask that any funds raised be sent directly to an anxiety charity, such as the ADAA. [5]
    • As a general rule, the more detailed your request, the more funds you will raise. Try to explain your motivation for spreading the word about SAD via fundraising. For example, you might write, “I have a close friend who has SAD and I would like to see more research being done.”
    • Make this competitive by asking your friends to create sites as well. Track who raises the most amount of money in certain time frames. Award the winner a printed certificate or some other cheap but meaningful prize.
  2. Look for online marketplaces and stores that will donate a portion of your purchase back to a mental health or SAD-associated charity. Many grocery stores, for example, will allow you to link your rewards card to a variety of organizations. Amazon Smile will send .5% of certain purchase prices back to a charity as well. [6]
    • Some companies even offer branded merchandise that spread the word about a particular cause. You can purchase a bracelet from Bravelets, for example, that says, “Be brave.” They will send some of the profits along to anxiety charities. If someone asks about your bracelet, you will also be able to tell them about the cause.
  3. It is often more fun to raise money with other people. Approach your co-workers about sponsoring a charity drive for Social Anxiety Disorder. You can send everyone envelopes for cash donations or you could organize an activity such as a car wash to raise funds. [7]
    • If you want to make this competitive and you have a good number of co-workers, you can divide everyone up into teams and see who raises the most money in a set amount of time. Have a party at the end of the campaign to celebrate your contributions.
  4. Gather up some of the items that you are willing to part with for a SAD charity. Ask your friends, family, and co-workers for donation items as well. List all of these items online via an auction site, such as eBay Giving Works. [8]
    • Make sure that you keep careful track of any items that are donated. You may want to log everything in and out using a journal.
    Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Raising Awareness If You Have SAD

  1. Even if you have SAD, you can always learn more about it. Look online for information by searching with the key terms “Social Anxiety Disorder” or “Social Phobia.” Focus on reliable websites linked to charity or medical organizations. Gaining this knowledge will allow you see how your individual experiences connect with the broader picture.
    • As you research, look for areas of SAD treatment that you could like to help with. For example, would you like to focus your efforts on spreading the word about how SAD can impact children or older adults?
  2. If you have SAD, you may feel uncomfortable participating in an awareness campaign with heavy social interactions. Or, you could enjoy only certain types of interactions. If, for example, you would like to avoid going door-to-door, you might consider making telephone calls instead.
  3. If you aren’t interested in an involved fundraising campaign, you can always send money to anxiety awareness organizations via one-time or recurring payments. This is a quick, simple way to fund the research and information process. In some situations, you may be able to stipulate that your donation goes to a specific area, such as the creation of promotional materials. [9]
  4. Consider agreeing to participate in one of the many studies offered by legitimate non-profit mental health agencies. This research is critical to fostering understanding about the reach and implications of SAD. Some studies cover mental health in general while others focus more specifically on Social Phobia.
    • Read all documentation carefully, including privacy statements. Don't be afraid to ask for more time to consider whether you should participate. Some research studies are more invasive than others. Some also offer compensation while others do not.
    • Some studies are linked to online groups, such as MoodNetwork. This is a network that focuses on mood disorders and links patients with medical researchers. It allows for a quick, online sign-up process. [10]
  5. Raising awareness isn’t just about the broader public, it can also be sharing information with others directly affected by SAD. Support groups meet all over the world and the schedules vary from once a month to every day for multiple months. Find a group by searching online for “Social Phobia support groups” or “Social Anxiety Disorder support groups.” [11]
    • Some groups require more overt participation than others. Make sure that you talk to the group leader or do some background research online before attending so you know what to expect.
    Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How can you overcome social anxiety?
    Hilya Tehrani, PsyD
    Licensed Clinical Psychologist
    Dr. Hilya Tehrani is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with over twenty years of experience. She specializes in working with children and adolescents. Dr. Tehrani also has expertise in supporting individuals with autism, ADHD, anxiety, behavioral challenges, and learning and processing differences. She holds a BA in Psychology from The University of California, Los Angeles, an MA in Clinical Psychology from California State University, Northridge, and a PsyD in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University.
    Hilya Tehrani, PsyD
    Licensed Clinical Psychologist
    Expert Answer
    Taking part in a support group is a great place to start. Facing your fears in a safe and supportive setting will go a long way toward empowering you to overcome your symptoms. Plus, you can get real-time, reality-based feedback to help you understand how you come across to others.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit

      Advertisement

      Tips

      • If you want to make an impact, you can also contact your elected officials to request that additional resources be devoted to research and awareness for Social Anxiety Disorder.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Before working with any awareness organization, do some research online regarding how they operate and how they spend their funds. For example, you may want to see if the organization has any connection to major drug companies and how that might impact their research or awareness practices. [12]
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • Social Phobia is not the same as shyness. If you find that your social anxieties are shaping your everyday life in negative ways, you may want to speak with a counselor or your doctor.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Do Hairstyles for Curly Hair
      How to
      Dress Modestly for a Mormon Church (for Females)
      How to
      Become Taller Naturally
      How to
      Improve Your Alexa Ranking
      How to
      Make Mother's Day Gifts
      How to
      Style Shoulder Length Hair
      How to
      Get into Real Estate
      How to
      Prepare a Raised Bed Garden
      How to
      Get Rid of Blackheads on Your Nose
      How to
      Do a Natural Everyday Makeup Look in 10 Minutes
      How to
      Build Good Credit
      How to
      Slim Your Face
      How to
      Dress on a Cruise
      How to
      Iron
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/social-anxiety-disorder/basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20032524
      2. ↑ https://www.nami.org/stigma
      3. ↑ https://www.nami.org/About-NAMI
      4. ↑ https://www.adaa.org/mental-health-month-may-2015
      5. ↑ https://www.adaa.org/taking-action/ways-give
      6. ↑ https://smile.amazon.com/
      7. ↑ https://www.adaa.org/taking-action/ways-give
      8. ↑ https://www.adaa.org/taking-action/ways-give
      9. ↑ https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/adaa?code=Home
      1. ↑ https://www.adaa.org/sign-help-patient-registries
      2. ↑ Hilya Tehrani, PsyD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview. 27 August 2021.
      3. ↑ http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/pharma-watch-raising-awareness-or-drumming-up-sales/

      About this article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 15,023 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement