THE REALITY
The Impact of Modern Technology.
The modern world in which we live has made life easier in some ways but seems to have impacted our mental health negatively. Young people have a far more complicated life now with the technology available. Smart phones and social media have increased pressures on both young people and their parents. We have 24 hour information overload in our hands. Information ranging from all of the troubles in the world, to filter perfect Instagram models.
The Reality
How is modern society impacting Mental Health?
Alarming Surge in Child Mental Health
Youth Psychiatric A&E Tripled 2010-2018
Disturbing Youth Self-Harm Statistics
Youth Suicide: A Devastating 2019 Reality Emerges
BRIANNA’S STORY
16 year old Brianna Ghey was brutally murdered on the 11th February 2023. Throughout Brianna’s teenage years she suffered with poor mental health. Her mental health worsened during the pandemic. Brianna became used to living her life online and would refuse to go out due to anxiety. She struggled so much that the high school which she attended had to give her a reduced timetable and accommodate her learning in smaller classes.
There were referrals made to various public health services. Brianna struggled to communicate how she felt and would often say she didn’t believe anything was wrong. Mental health services said that Brianna wouldn’t engage. As a result, she was refused treatment or discharged before any improvement was made.
Towards the end of her life, she was socially isolated, restricting her eating, and self-harming. To the point where her family were concerned that she might take her own life. Brianna’s family believe that a lot of the mental health issues that Brianna was struggling with were brought on by social isolation and living most of her life online.
The internet and social media can be a very toxic environment. It is hard to monitor mobile phone usage of teenagers, and getting the balance of trust, privacy and safeguarding is a very difficult thing for parents now. Brianna was accessing social media pages that encouraged eating disorders and self-harm.
Turning back the clock to a time where there is no internet is an impossible task. But if we can teach children and young people how to take care of themselves and prioritise their mental health, this could reduce the chance of them going down the dark hole that Brianna found herself in.
LET’S CREATE A BETTER STATE OF MIND & A HEALTHIER
ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO LIVE IN.
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