By Iuri Melo
In the past decade, evidence has been mounting that shows the mental health of teenagers has been on a rapid decline. The number of teens with clinical levels of depression has doubled, and the suicide rate for teens has nearly doubled, and tripled for teens aged 10-14. Teens report feeling more unhappy, dissatisfied with life, and more lonely and isolated from others.
It was around this same time that smartphone ownership started to become widespread. By the end of 2012, 50% of the population had a phone, and by today, 9 out of 10 teens have one. As cell phone ownership and digital media use have risen, so have the rates of depression, feelings of loneliness, and dissatisfaction with life.
But it’s hard to completely prove that one thing is causing another. There are a lot of factors that can make a teen more predisposed to feeling depressed or anxious, such as genetic factors, events and circumstances in their life, loss, grief, health, trauma, poverty, bullying, and our own psychology.
To me, it’s obvious why some of our children are feeling more isolated, less connected, and more socially anxious. Sherry Turkle, who is a researcher in this field, says it best as she describes what smartphones have done to us: “We are forever elsewhere.”
It’s very easy to get lost in our phones and forget to be present and connected with the people around us. On a recent 9 hour car drive with a car full of teens, I could literally hear a pin drop as each and every teen was completely absorbed in their phone. It’s no wonder why teens are feeling more isolated and disconnected.
So, what can we do? We can start by helping our children learn how to manage this challenge. We can encourage them to be more socially engaged and connected with others, to be where their feet are, to build their own fun and memories, to use their phone as a life-enhancement, and to place some limits or screen time on their phone.
But it’s not just about teaching our children. We have to lead by example and be congruent with the message we are attempting to instill in our children. We must model and encourage them to deal with this issue in an honorable and courageous way.
