Snapchat introduces its mental health-related feature earlier than expected due to COVID-19

Snap Inc. is hoping to somewhat help during this global COVID-19 pandemic by offering its Here For You feature earlier than its intended release. Announced earlier this year to mark Safer Internet Day, Snapchat's Here For You function is designed to direct users to mental health-related resources. In a company blog post released in February, it was supposed to roll out "in the coming months" to "show safety resources from local experts when Snapchatters search for certain topics, including those related to anxiety, depression, stress, grief, suicidal thoughts, and bullying." 

But with the toll that the novel coronavirus has taken on both our physical and mental health, Snap Inc. has opted to release the feature earlier than its intended April release date. So, Snapchat users who search for the terms "coronavirus" and "COVID-19" should surface important and verified information from partners like "the Ad Council, World Health Organization, the CDC, Crisis Text Line, NHS, and other partners who are creating content on anxiety specifically related to coronavirus." According to an email to Mashable, the feature is expected to roll out next week.