Teen Wellbeing: Alone Together

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With the average 17-year-old spending close to 6 hours a day on social media, it’s hardly surprising that alarm bells are ringing the world over regarding adolescent mental health. Should this continue, experts predict that teenagers can expect to lose two decades of an average lifetime to endless scrolling …

We know teenagers today are struggling with unprecedented levels of anxiety, depression, addiction and suicidality. These ‘diseases of despair’ – a phrase coined by Dr Lisa Miller, professor in the clinical psychology program at Columbia University in the US – are robbing them of what should be healthy and happy young lives. So much so, that during the pandemic the mental health status of American youth was escalated to a national crisis by then Surgeon General, Dr Vivek Murthy.

A recent study carried out by RCSI in Dublin on Mental Health of Irish Adolescents following the pandemic found that 29% (of the 4,400 adolescents in north Dublin, Cavan and Monaghan interviewed) described their mental health as “bad” or “very bad” – with 11% reporting attempting suicide.

“Perhaps the epidemic numbers of children in the West receiving diagnoses is a symptom not of something ‘wrong’ that we should try to cure in the individual, but a barometer pointing to something ‘unhealthy’ in society, the culture that invented it.”

Even prior to the onset of the pandemic, alarms were being raised regarding child mental health. In his 2021 book, A Straight-Talking Introduction to Children’s Mental Health Problems, UK-based Child Psychiatrist Dr. Sami Timini refers to escalating child psychiatric diagnoses and the rapid increase in the use of drugs to treat unwanted behaviour or emotions as the ‘McDonaldization’ of child mental health.

The world is a very different place for teenagers now than it was when their parents were teenagers. Since the first iPhone launched in the US in 2007, everything we need has been at our fingertips, making daily life far easier to navigate in so many ways. Bear in mind that babies born in 2007 turn 18 this year and they are the first generation to make it to adulthood with their entire lives lived in the shadow of a phone.

With a world of information at the touch of a screen teenagers are exposed to images that no one should be seeing. This said, those very same physiological, neurological, social and emotional developmental stages of growing up that happened to us happen in much the same way for our children. Contributing to my latest book Un:Stuck: Helping Teens and Young Adults flourish in an Age of Anxiety, Fiona Spargo-Mabbs OBE, author and founder of The Daniel Spargo-Mabbs Foundation drug education charity in the UK writes, “Fundamentally, within this different world, every teen still needs to know that they are loved, that they are listened to and safe, and that they have value and a validated place in a world in which they are emerging as increasingly independent beings.”

Family & Adolescent Psychotherapist Stuart Wilson of ZestLife therapeutic services works closely with young people around Ireland. Having seen first-hand the distress, isolation, disconnection and loneliness in young people, he believes the solution is connection, acceptance and love. “Many adolescents we see are sleep deprived and present with symptoms of exhaustion, dizziness, lack of focus and concentration,” he says. “Understanding that children’s late night use of screens may be causing this, and focusing on screen use boundaries, nutrition and exercise can help regulate the adolescent within a short period of time.” ZestLife online platform offers courses for both parents and adolescents navigating challenging times.

Social Media Standards

Another worrying trend is the steep rise in use of skincare products designed for an older audience. The “Sephora Kids” trend, as it is dubbed by social media users, refers to the children and young teenagers crowding the beauty isles before sharing videos of their purchases and skincare routines online. Increasingly sophisticated algorithms feed into this exposure, serving users recommendations about beauty tips and influencers after just a few searches on the topic.

Irish Skincare expert and founder of Be Kingdom Kind, Anita Murray (pictured) says that the “pursuit of skin perfection is creeping further down the ages with a rise in children as young as 9 and 10 seeking out active skincare products, with brands capitalising on this. The education piece really comes in at the parents’ end with an awareness that younger skin is more sensitive, so will often not tolerate products and active ingredients essentially formulated for adults. The inflammation seen as a result of using intensive products contributes to the number one skin concern we see in kids and that’s breakouts.”

For many of these teenagers, their skincare routine can contain up to seven products, excluding make-up. We know that growing bodies and minds need higher levels of nutrients – such as protein for muscle growth, calcium for bone development, iron for blood production and zinc for myriad reasons, amongst other essential nutrients – but according to nutritionist Cyndi O’Meara, Founder of The Nutrition Academy in Australia, two thirds of calories consumed by teenagers across the Western world come from ultra-processed foods.

“Since the inception of synthetic supplements and ultra-processed foods filled with additives, the health of teenagers and the population at large has degraded into chronic disease, with more young people presenting with metabolic abnormalities.”

While highlighting the importance of limiting social media use, eating well and enhancing exercise and sleep routines is helpful, teens need to be shown how – and they need to be heard. In many ways, this current crisis presents an opportunity that is starting to be taken more seriously. Last year, Australia approved The Social Media Minimum Age Bill banning children aged under 16 and setting a benchmark for jurisdictions around the world. The law forces tech giants from Instagram and Facebook owner Meta to TikTok to stop minors logging in or face fines of up to AU$49.5 million ($32 million).

World Digital Detox Day (WDDD), the brainchild of Dr Rekha Chaudhari in India, is fast gaining momentum with engagement from over 8 million people in 65 countries. Celebrated annually on December 10, the mission is to inspire every generation to break free from digital distractions and cultivate a healthier relationship with technology as it gains momentum.

Teen-focused retreats are on the rise too, with increased emphasis on family and intergenerational wellness. In the UK, Transformational Leadership Coach Natasha Richardson runs REWIRE™ retreats to empower and educate teen girls (13-16 years) to develop a strong sense of self in an increasingly digital world. Using somatic practices including sound baths, yoga, meditation and breathwork, combined with foraging, campfires and wild walks, the aim is to nurture happier, more confident and resilient teenagers who are excited and hopeful for tomorrow.

Founded by psychologist Josh Dickson, the transformational surf therapy retreat Resurface also works with teenagers and parents in the UK, Morocco and Norway. Dickon believes that the mindfulness of surfing has immense psychological benefits when combined with trauma therapy, culture and connection.

“We honour young people’s unique perspectives to help them navigate their journey and discover new ways to engage with life.”

Source: thegloss.ie
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