Empathy and redemption: Exploring the narrative transformation of online support for mental health across communities before and after Covid-19.

This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals' mental health and their online interactions, particularly within Reddit's mental health communities. By analyzing data from 15 subreddits categorized into mental health and control groups from 2018 to 2022, we observed that forums dedicated to mental health exhibited higher levels of user engagement and received more supportive responses than those in other categories. However, as the pandemic evolved, a significant decrease in online support was noted, especially within these mental health groups.