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​The Teen Mental Health Crisis

six tips from an open and relational youth minister
in an age of stress, isolation, loneliness, and anxiety

smartphones, social media, social comparisons,
and a compulsive need for online validation

"We’re in the midst of a serious teen mental health crisis. The number of teenagers and young adults with clinical depression more than doubled between 2011 and 2021. The suicide rate for teenagers nearly doubled from 2007 to 2019, and tripled for 10 to 14 year- olds in particular. According to the C.D.C., nearly 25 percent of teenage girls made a suicide plan in 2021. What’s going on in the lives of teenagers that has produced such a startling uptick?" - Ezra Klein, NY Times

The Teen Mental Health Crisis
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The Ezra Klein Show: "The Teen Mental Health Crisis, Part I." You can listen to this episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google or wherever you get your podcasts.
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We’re in the midst of a serious teen mental health crisis. The number of teenagers and young adults with clinical depression more than doubled between 2011 and 2021. The suicide rate for teenagers nearly doubled from 2007 to 2019, and tripled for 10 to 14 year- olds in particular. According to the C.D.C., nearly 25 percent of teenage girls made a suicide plan in 2021. What’s going on in the lives of teenagers that has produced such a startling uptick?

Jean Twenge, a research psychologist and author of the books “iGen” and “Generations,” has spent years poring over mental health statistics and survey data trying to answer this question. In her view, the story in the data is clear: Our teenage mental health crisis is the direct product of the rise of smartphones and social media.

- Ezra Klein

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​You might think that, when an open and relational (process) theologian considers mental health for teenagers, she would turn to a process understanding of God. She would talk about how it might help teenagers to trust that God is not a bully in the sky but rather a companionable friend. 

Not me. I'd turn to the place of friendships in the life of a teenager, God or no God. And I'd turn to the way in which smart phones and social media have isolated teenagers from one another, leading them into perpetual social comparisons and, for teenage girls, preoccupations with body image issues.
 
This episode of the Ezra Klein podcast looks at the statistical studies of the psychologist Jean Twenge, who is interviewed by Klein. She shows, rather definitively, that smart phones and social media are a primary cause of the problem and that they have made a tremendous, and negative, influence on teenage life. A few quotes from the transcript:
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"And you think about what’s important for mental health overall, it’s relationships. Then, you think about teens in particular, that is what makes or breaks mental health for a teen, is their relationships, particularly their friendships. And the way those friendships were conducted changed completely." (Jean Twenge)

"So there’s all of the things that happen when a teen uses social media. So we can start with things like social comparison and body image issues. So this is what Facebook’s own research shows, as well as plenty of external academic research as well, that looking at, say, these ideal bodies on Instagram, or even the people you go to high school with, and they look more glamorous, and you’re comparing your body to theirs, and your appearance to theirs and coming up short...So that’s the social comparison piece, and lots of studies on this, that people that spend more time, and especially those who spend more time looking at those images on Instagram, if they have that tendency towards social comparison, that’s where you get the body image issues, appearance issues." (Jean Twenge) 

What to do? There are two approaches, both important: the individual approach and the governmental approach. Here is what Twenge says about each:
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So there are things that we can at least try to do, so no phones in the bedroom overnight is my favorite one. And that’s not just for teens, it’s for adults too — tons of sleep lab studies, as we talked about, that you’re not going to sleep as well if that phone is in your bedroom.

People have a tendency to, when they wake up in the middle of the night, look at it, and then that whole process starts over again with poor sleep. And many people’s protest to this is, yes, but I have to have my phone in my bedroom overnight because it’s my alarm clock. I have some advice for you. Buy an alarm clock. They’re cheap. You can buy two or three if you’re worried.

Then there’s other things to say, but — so I have three kids. We have tried to delay the smartphone as long as possible and to delay social media even further. And I do think that is a good idea. If the kid really needs a phone, get him a flip phone. Get him a pared down smartphone, like a Gabb phone, where you can text, talk, and take pictures, and that’s it. There’s no ability to download social media or access the internet. So there are some things that we can try. The difficulty is parental permission isn’t needed to get a social media account. And kids are supposed to be 13, but age isn’t actually verified. School laptops have YouTube on them, at least ours do.

​And there's the governmental approach:
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So there’s only so much that individuals can do. Social media is extremely unregulated. And I think the time has come to regulate it more so we can have more of these solutions that are at a group level. So just as one example, if we raised the minimum age for social media to 16 and required age actually being verified and enforced that, social media would be out of middle schools. That’s already a time — developmentally, that’s very difficult, and social media makes it worse.
And then kids would not be able to make the argument, which so often happens, but everybody I know has Snapchat, Mom. Then they wouldn’t.

Social Media Can Be a ‘Profound Risk’
to Youth, Surgeon General Warns

Catherine Pearson, Matt Richtel, NY Times
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Catherine Pearson is a reporter for the Well section of The Times, covering families and relationships. 

​Matt Richtel is a best-selling author and Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter based in San Francisco. He joined The Times in 2000, and his work has focused on science, technology, business and narrative-driven storytelling around these issues.

 May 23, 2023, 5:00 a.m. ET
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The United States surgeon general, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, issued a public advisory on Tuesday warning of the risks of social media use to young people. In a 19-page report, Dr. Murthy noted that although the effects of social media on adolescent mental health were not fully understood, and that social media can be beneficial to some users, “there are ample indicators that social media can also have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.”

The surgeon general called on policymakers, tech companies, researchers and parents to “urgently take action” to safeguard against the potential risks.

Why It Matters: Young brains are particularly susceptible to social media.“Adolescents are not just smaller adults,” Dr. Murthy said in an interview with The New York Times about the advisory. “They’re in a different phase of development, and they’re in a critical phase of brain development.”

The report noted that “frequent social media use may be associated with distinct changes in the developing brain in the amygdala (important for emotional learning and behavior) and the prefrontal cortex (important for impulse control, emotional regulation, and moderating social behavior), and could increase sensitivity to social rewards and punishments.”

The report also cited research indicating that up to 95 percent of teens reported using at least one social media platform, while more than one-third said they used social media “almost constantly.” In addition, nearly 40 percent of children ages 8 to 12 use social media, even though the required minimum age for most sites is 13.

Researchers have been struggling to understand the impact of social media use on teen mental health. The data are not straightforward and indicate that the effects can be both positive and negative. For instance, social media enables some young people to connect with others, find community and express themselves.

But social media also brims with “extreme, inappropriate and harmful content,” the advisory noted, including content that “normalizes” self-harming, eating disorders and other destructive behavior. Cyberbullying is rampant. And the rise in social media use has coincided with declines in exercise, sleep and other activities considered vital to the developing brain.

Moreover, social media spaces can be fraught for young people especially, the advisory added: “In early adolescence, when identities and sense of self-worth are forming, brain development is especially susceptible to social pressures, peer opinions, and peer comparison.”

Background: The increased scrutiny comes amid a mental health crisis among American youth.The advisory joins a growing number of calls for action around adolescents and social media, as experts probe what role it may play in the ongoing teen mental health crisis. Earlier this month, the American Psychological Association issued its first-ever social media guidance, recommending that parents closely monitor teens’ usage and that tech companies reconsider features like endless scrolling and the “like” button.

In the advisory, Dr. Murthy expressed an “urgent need” for clarity on several research fronts. They include the types of social media content that cause harm; whether particular neurological pathways, such as those involving reward and addiction, are affected; and which strategies could be used to protect the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.

“Our children have become unknowing participants in a decades-long experiment,” Dr. Murthy wrote. “It is critical that independent researchers and technology companies work together to rapidly advance our understanding of the impact of social media on children and adolescents.”

Dr. Murthy also acknowledged that, until now, “the burden of protecting youth has fallen predominantly on children, adolescents, and their families.”
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“That’s a lot to ask of parents — to take a new technology that’s rapidly evolving and that fundamentally changes how kids perceive themselves" and ask parents to manage it, Dr. Murthy told The Times. “So we’ve got to do what we do in other areas where we have product safety issues, which is to set in place safety standards that parents can rely on, that are actually enforced.”

The Open and Relational
Youth Minister
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Hey friends! As your youth minister, I, too, suffer the stress of living in a digital, lonely, violent world. We're in it together. I'll share some tips - tips for me as well as for you - on how we might live a healthier and more balanced life. Let's dive in!

Digital Detox: It's important to find a healthy balance with your smartphone and social media. Think about taking breaks from your phone? Don't sleep with it in your room. Consider giving yourself some "phone-free" time to connect with yourself, others, and the divine presence within. Offline activities like joining a sports team, exploring a new hobby, or being creative can help you grow personally and connect with the world around you. Don't fall into the trap of always comparing yourself to people with "perfect bodies" and "perfect lives." You're perfect just as you are; and who cares about perfection, anyway. Just be you. Digital detox is your time.

Nurturing Relationships: Building caring relationships with family, friends, and peers is really important. Make space for deep conversations, listening to others with empathy, and showing kindness. How about having regular family dinners or friends where you can share your thoughts and feelings? You can also join supportive groups or get involved in community events that bring people together. These connections will teach you empathy, compassion, and help you grow as a person. Maybe our Wednesday evening group can be one of these places for you.

Spending Time with Animals and the Earth: Spending time with animals and immersing yourself in nature can be incredibly therapeutic. Take walks in nature, visit local parks, or volunteer at animal shelters. Interacting with animals and appreciating the beauty of the natural world can bring you a sense of calm, joy, and connection. It's amazing how nature reminds us of the interconnectedness of all living beings. And of course, God is in nature, too. The earth is alive; it's God's body.

Inner Reflection: Finding moments of peace and connecting with your spirituality can be so fulfilling. Explore practices like mindfulness, prayer, or contemplation that resonate with you. It could be as simple as taking a few minutes each day to meditate, journal, or express gratitude. It can be a study of scripture, too. These practices can help you appreciate your worth, embrace your unique journey, and cultivate self-compassion. Try to have a "daily practice": something you do every day that's unrelated to school, family life, or the digital world. 

Make a Difference: Getting involved in your community can be a rewarding experience. It helps get you out of your skin and into the world, giving you a sense of purpose. Look for opportunities to lend a helping hand, whether it's volunteering at a local organization, participating in service projects, or supporting causes you care about. By making a positive impact, you'll see how your actions can contribute to creating a more compassionate and just world.

Sleep Well, Dream Big: Sleep is essential for your well-being, so it's important to establish good sleep habits. Aim for a consistent sleep schedule, create a cozy sleep environment, and wind down before bed with activities that help you relax, like reading a book or listening to calming music. Taking care of your body by avoiding stimulants and heavy meals before bedtime and staying active during the day will contribute to better sleep.

Remember, these are just suggestions to help you live a more balanced and fulfilling life. Remember also that we'll be meeting every Wednesday night to talk about these things. We may talk a little "theology," too. I'll introduce you to open and relational or "process" theology, which thinks of God, not as a bully in the sky but as a healing spirit in the world and in your life. Take what resonates with you and embrace your unique journey of personal growth and well-being. You've got this!

- Samantha

More from the NY Times

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• Turning to TikTok: Teens are using the popular app to diagnose themselves with mental illnesses. Some are embracing ineffective or inappropriate treatments.
• The Toll of Covid-19: During the pandemic, the number of children and adolescents needing urgent mental health care spiked.
• Rise in Suicide Among Black Youth: A recent study uncovered a sharp rise in suicide rates among Black youth, especially among girls.
• Prevention: With more young people reporting suicidal thoughts, concerned parents and loved-ones are looking for ways to help. Here are some suggestions.
• Advocacy Efforts: To contain the crisis, teens are organizing to improve the mental health services available to them.
• The Suicide Website: An online platform providing directions on how to die is linked to a trail of deaths among young people, a Times investigation found.

Friends Matter to All of Us
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"Friends matter to us, and they matter more than we think. The single most surprising fact to emerge out of the medical literature over the last decade or so has been that the number and quality of the friendships we have has a bigger influence on our happiness, health and even mortality risk than anything else except giving up smoking."

​-- Robin Dunbar, an emeritus professor of evolutionary psychology at the University of Oxford. Dunbar defines the “seven pillars of friendship” as similarities that predispose people to become friends: language or dialect, geography, educational experiences, hobbies and interests, moral or spiritual viewpoints, political views, sense of humor and taste in music. 
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