Research has found that placing too much value on being happy can be counterproductive to young people's mental health. With anxiety on the rise and young people feeling pressure to be their best selves, there’s a need for brands to speak with realism rather than uncensored optimism.

The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly reconfigured the world as we know it – and a mental health crisis could be waiting in its aftermath. Canvas8 spoke to Staci K. Haines, the author of The Politics of Trauma, to understand how the outbreak is set to challenge and change our emotional wellbeing.

Facing prolonged isolation, financial uncertainty, and difficult (but much-needed) discussions around racism, the average American is grappling with a lot more than normal in 2020. Canvas8 spoke to eight people about how challenging times are shaping their communications with friends and family.

The psychological distress caused by COVID-19 has caused many people in isolation to rely on friends, family, online communities, and brands for a sense of normality. Canvas8 spoke to Xi Tian, a researcher at Penn State University, to understand what’s required for effective emotional support.