Mrs. Chamberlain in the counseling office on Thursday talks about what she believes is causing teen’s mental health to worsen.
There is no leading cause for teen’s mental health worsening but rather there are multiple things that can cause mental health issues such as, adverse childhood experiences (ACE’s), social isolation and discrimination, economic factors, and peer pressure and bullying. It can also be biological, like brain development and traumatic brain injuries (TBI’s). Social media is also a major contributing factor.
Mrs. Chamberlain says “a big concern nowadays is social media and phone usage.” She says that teens have a “decrease in interpersonal connections,” which we see to be true in many social situations and why terms such as the “Gen Z stare” have been coined. With the use of social media teens are also being “constantly exposed to the issues,” of our modern time, including politics, global warming, and wars. Mrs. Chamberlain said another reason social media is a problem is because “a part of it is comparison.” Mrs. Chamberlain listed one last reason as to why phone usage and social media is affecting teen’s mental health and that is “people feel as though it’s easier to say what they want through a screen rather than face to face.” This leads to kids being ruder and harsher online, which we see as online bullying becomes more prominent.
Mental health issues often cause many problems in people whether it be an actual disorder or stress. ACEs can significantly increase the risk of developing mental health disorders like depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, and substance abuse disorders. Social isolation can cause cognitive decline and economic factors can create a lot of stress. Genetics and brain development can lead to more severe issues such as schizophrenia and OCD, it can also cause autism and ADHD. Social media contributes to factors such as anxiety, depression, loneliness, sleep problems and low self-esteem.
When asked the question, what problems does social media and phone usage have, Mrs. Chamberlain answered “I feel like anxiety is more the concern, people are so attached.” During our interview the topic of addiction, specifically with the phone, was brought up. Modern teens are so attached to their phones that they are struggling with feelings of anxiety, they become agitated when they have to detach from their phone.
When it comes to bettering these issues whether it’s caused by ACEs, social isolation, genetics, or social media, it is always recommended to seek professional help. Having a strong support system is also highly beneficial and recommended. To recover from any issues caused by social media and phone addiction a person should start establishing healthy boundaries by setting time limits, creating tech-free zones, and turning off notifications.
Mrs. Chamberlain said when it comes to helping these issues, “yonder pouches are helping a little but just by limiting yourself, don’t keep your phone in your room, and set times when you are not on your phone.” The more a teen limits their usage and separates from their phone the more they will see the problems caused by it will start to alleviate.
Coping mechanisms are some things that aren’t discussed often and many people find themselves with poor coping skills. When it comes to the factors that cause mental health it is yet again recommended to seek professional help and to practice CBT, cognitive behavioral therapy, and DBT, dialectical behavioral therapy. It also helps to have a strong support system. Oftentimes though its self care and finding the best fit for you.
Mrs. Chamberlain said “everyone is different, so different things help, like journaling and exercising. Sometimes it’s finding your hobbies like baking, gardening, and reading.” So it’s important to remember that what may work best for one person may not work for another. It also helps to “keep yourself busy” so distraction can be a useful tool.
