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If you’ve picked up a newspaper in the last few months, you’ve probably noticed article upon article about the rise of teen anxiety, depression and suicide. It was just last year that suicide moved up to the second-leading cause of death among US teens.
The question everyone is wondering is why?
Experts are speculating, and most of their theories have one “device” in common: the smartphone.
I can’t say I disagree. In fact, I see 3 ingredients catalyzing this unprecedented increase in teen anxiety and depression, and all flow from that device young people carry around in their pocket.
I just finished posting a brand new article on TheSource4Parents.com, not only with these three ingredients, but a few proven practices that can counter these precarious influences.
Take a peek at that article HERE!
Jonathan McKee is the author of the brand new book to young people, The Teen’s Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices, devoting several chapters exploring selfies, LIKES, posting pictures, and discovering our true identity
Posted in Entertainment Media, Internet, Parenting, Self Image, Social Media, Youth Culture | Tags: anxiety, Depression, smartphone, social media, suicide, teen depression | Leave A Comment
Hi Jonathan. Reading your article stirred up a lot of emotions in me. It saddens me to know that suicide is now the second highest cause of death among teens. That is very disturbing. What happened to the youth as our future? I am totally aware that a lot of people are now “looking down”. To their devices, that is. Most of the times, totally absorbed that they are no longer aware of the people they’re with or their surroundings. My teen son is no exception. I can’t control this behavior when I’m not with him but in the house, we set some rules regarding his screen time. No gadgets on the dinner table and his phone sleeps in our room. Thank God he’s not the type who lives and breathes ‘social media’. He’s more into video games and gaming cards. I read that depression doesn’t have a face so parents should really be vigilant. Our support and guidance must be unconditional especially to the teens’ developing brain. Thank you Jonathan. Your article is beautiful and truly, an eye-opener.
Sorry, I messed up with the rating since I was only using my phone and ended up not giving you a star. It’s the opposite, your article is one of the best I read in a long time. I just cannot figure out how to reverse the rating. Keep doing what you’re doing, you’re an inspiration to all parents. 🙂