Headspace, the world’s most accessible and comprehensive mental health platform, and Michelle Obama’s When We All Vote, a national, nonpartisan initiative dedicated to changing the culture around voting and increasing participation in every election, have teamed up to help voters manage their mental health throughout the 2024 election season, while empowering them to participate in the democratic process.

While research has found that elections cause a nation’s stress levels to increase, experts also have found that being a part of the democratic process is an important step toward taking care of your mental health throughout the election season. With 49% of the world’s voters heading to the polls this year, and 73% of U.S. voters reporting anxious feelings about the upcoming election, people need mental health support during this time of uncertainty now more than ever. According to Headspace’s 2024 Workforce State of Mind report, 1 in 4 respondents say that election stress is impacting their mental health at work, with Gen Z feeling the impact most strongly. Further, voter suppression efforts continue to rise: since 2020, more than 500 voter suppression bills have been introduced — and many passed — creating additional barriers and feelings of disenfranchisement.

With the first 2024 U.S. presidential debate kicking off today, this partnership will provide eligible voters with a number of resources designed to ease anxiety and help manage their stress during a tumultuous election season and beyond:

• Voter registration portal: Voting can positively impact an individual’s mental health by providing an opportunity to take a proactive step and participate in the democratic process. Eligible voters can visit When We All Vote and Headspace’s voter registration portal where they’ll be prompted to complete a brief form, which will direct them to their secretary of state’s website, where they can register.
• Election Season Survival Guide: With a never-ending news cycle and difficult political conversations on the rise, Headspace and When We All Vote’s free toolkit will support eligible voters in balancing their civic duty with their mental health. This toolkit offers free audio and video mindfulness exercises, developed by Headspace’s meditation teachers and mental health coaches.
• Election stress assessment: Eligible voters can determine their stress levels as it relates to the current political landscape – whether that’s ‘politically panicked,’ a ‘collected constituent,’ or somewhere in between – with a brief quiz, available on Headspace and When We All Vote’s Election Season Survival Guide landing page. Upon completion, they’ll be able to access free mental health resources, aligned to their needs, curated by Headspace’s meditation teachers and mental health coaches.
• In-app mental health resources: Headspace’s meditation teachers and mental health coaches have teamed up to create a ‘Politics Without Panic’ content collection, including a series of meditations and exercises, now live in the Headspace app, with new meditations dropping each month leading up to the election. The collection is intended to help voters leverage stress-relieving tools needed to stay calm and focused, while prioritizing their mental health. The collection will also offer tips on how to worry less about the news, navigate uncertainty, manage relationships and set healthy boundaries, and process tough emotions.

“For many of us, the simple act of exercising our right to vote can foster a sense of control, agency, and self-determination,” said Wizdom Powell, Chief Purpose Officer, Headspace. “However, it’s important to acknowledge that for those who have been historically excluded from the democratic process, or have faced voter suppression, there are many barriers that stand in the way of feeling the mental health benefits of casting a vote. With continued civic engagement and voter registration efforts, we’re eager to inspire change in partnership with When We All Vote.”

“From constant media coverage to endless doom scrolling, elections can bring up a lot of stress, and navigating that stress should not deter us from making our voices heard,” said Beth Lynk, Executive Director of When We All Vote. “When We All Vote is excited to partner with Headspace to create resources to help voters navigate election anxiety and ensure they are taking care of themselves, their communities and their mental health while using their voices at the ballot box.”

To learn more about the partnership and access Headspace and When We All Vote’s resources, please visit www.headspace.com/election.

About When We All Vote When We All Vote is a leading national, nonpartisan initiative on a mission to change the culture around voting and to increase participation in each and every election by helping to close the race and age gap. Created by Michelle Obama, When We All Vote brings together individuals, institutions, brands, and organizations to register new voters across the country and advance civic education to build an informed and engaged electorate for today and generations to come. We empower our supporters and volunteers to take action through voting, advocating for their rights, and holding their elected officials accountable. Learn more here.

About Headspace Headspace is your lifelong guide to better mental health. We make mental health support accessible to everyone, no matter their background or experience. Through our flagship Headspace app, we provide mental health coaching in addition to mindfulness and mental health tools for everyday life, like guided meditations, sleepcasts, mindful movement, and focus exercises. Our enterprise offerings combine this experience with EAP and work-life services, as well as therapy and psychiatry services – all in a single destination. Our team of experts ranges from mental health clinicians to Emmy award-winning producers and data scientists, working together as one to help millions of people around the world be healthier and more productive. To learn more, please visit headspace.com.