Mental-health memes and young people – New Master’s thesis on TUBEDU’s co-research

A Master’s thesis that is part of the TUBEDU project explores how 18–29-year-olds experience mental-health-themed memes. Linda Lindström (University of Jyväskylä) examined how memes can offer peer support and help young people cope with emotions and difficult topics online, using data collected through TUBEDU’s co-research activities in 2023–2024.

The findings suggest that memes can provide low-threshold emotional support, strengthen mental-health awareness, and contribute to creating a sense of safety in social media environments. Even passive meme consumption may support wellbeing and motivation.

Read the thesis (in Finnish):
Lindström, L. (2025). “Tarpeeksi kauan kun lärää, niin kyllä se voi olla, että pikkuhiljaa alkaa hymyilyttää”: Mielenterveysteemaiset meemit vertaistukena nuorille. [Master’s thesis, University of Jyväskylä]. https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:jyu-202506245698