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Connecting Generations: Navigating Social Media's Impact on Gen Z's Mental Health

Shawn O’Connor

CEO, Reflections Lifestyle Center

shawn.oconnor@reflectionslifestyle.com

(603) 660-7292

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Agenda

  • Introduction

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  • The State of Adolescent Mental Health

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  • The Link Between Social Media & Teen Mental Health

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  • Other Pertinent Psychology and Trends Regarding Today’s Teens

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  • Conclusion

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About Your Speaker: Shawn O’Connor

✓ CEO Reflections Lifestyle Center

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✓ Founder & CEO, Oak Bluffs Therapy �Group

✓ Founder & CEO, Mazzy Health

✓ Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service, BSFS

✓ Harvard Business School, MBA – JD

✓ Seventh Year Teaching at Harvard

✓ Founder & CEO, Stratus Prep

✓ Recipient of the 2023 Joanne Fussa Award for Excellence in Education at Harvard

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The Current State of Adolescent Mental Health

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Adolescent Mental Health Is Declining

  • Depression in Teens At An All-Time High

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  • 60% of Teen Girls Feel Persistently Sad and Hopeless

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  • 50% of Adolescents with Psychiatric Disorders Did Not Receive Any Kind �of Treatment in the Past Year

Bitsko RH, et. al. (2018). Impact of healthcare �provider diagnosed anxiety and depression among �US children. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

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  • Pre-Existing Trend

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  • In Many Cases, Staying Home Decreased Levels of Anxiety

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  • COVID-19 as a Catalyst

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Covid Did Not Cause Anxiety

% of US Children and Teens Experiencing Anxiety or Depression at Least Monthly

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  • Digital Disconnect

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  • Social Media Paradox

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  • Changing Social Landscape

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  • High Expectations and Stress

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  • Productive Mental Health Dialogue is Still Limited

Adolescents Feel Alone

% of 8th – 12th Graders Who Feel Left Out or Lonely

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  • Unrealistic Expectations

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  • Academic Pressure

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  • Economic Uncertainty

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  • Mental Health Challenges

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  • Lack of Autonomy

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Dissatisfaction Reigns

% of 12th Graders Not Satisfied with Themselves and Not Satisfied with Their Lives as a Whole

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  • Reflects Changes in Family Dynamics, Social Pressures, Future Anxiety, and the Advent of Digital Culture

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  • The Good News: Broader Recognition of Symptoms

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Depression is Sharply Rising

% of 8th – 12th Graders Experiencing Certain Symptoms of Depression

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% of U.S. Teens and Young Adults with Clinical-Level Depression in the Last Year

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  • Correlation with Mental Health Disorders

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  • Social Isolation

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  • Barriers to Seeking Help

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Rates of Self-Harm and Suicide Are Increasing

Rate of ER Admissions for Self-Harm, Girls and Young Women

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Suicide Rate per 100,000

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% of 15-25 Year Olds Who Say They are Unhappy, by Country

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% of 15 Year Olds Self-Scoring High in Loneliness

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Social Media

&

Teen Mental Health

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Evidence for Tech / Social Media as The Cause for Decreased Mental Wellness

  1. Timing

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  • Impact in Daily Life

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  • Group Level Effects

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  • Impact on Girls

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  • Shift to More Frequent But Less Satisfying Digital Interactions

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  • Community Fragmentation

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  • Role of Parental Mediation

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  • Teens Increasingly Struggling with Face-to-Face Interactions

Teens Are Socializing Less

Times Per Week U.S. Teens Go Out with Friends, by Grade Level

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  • Increased Screen Time

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  • Social Media and Connectivity (FOMO)

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  • Psychosocial Stressors

Teens Are Sleeping Less

% of Teens Who Get Less Than 7 Hours of Sleep on Most Nights

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  • Girls Who are Heavy Users 3X More Likely to Be Depressed

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  • 2X for Boys

Social Media Use Correlates with Depression

% of U.K. Teens with Clinically Significant Depression vs. Daily Hours of Social Media Use

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  • High levels of screen time are associated with lower psychological well-being; can lead to mood disturbances and depressive symptoms

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  • Regular exposure to idealized portrayals of others' lives on social media

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  • Technology can interfere with sleep quality and duration

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  • Physical Inactivity

Technology Use Correlates with Depression

Teen Girls Depression Rates and Possible Causes

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% of Teens Unhappy by Hours Per Day of Digital Media Use

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Additional Insights on Teen Psychology and Development

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  • Later Workforce Entry

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  • Delayed Driving Licenses

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  • Reduced Engagement in Early Romantic Relationships

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  • Shift in Leisure Priorities

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Postponed Adulting

% of US 12th Graders Engaging in Adult Activities

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  • Decline in Substance Use

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  • Increased Safety Awareness

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  • Digital Engagement Over Physical Adventures

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  • Parental Supervision and Involvement

Less Risk-Seeking

% of 8-10th Graders Who Like Doing Dangerous Things or Taking Risks

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  • Sedentary Lifestyle

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  • Poor Dietary Habits

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  • Sleep Deprivation

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  • Mental Health & Physical Health Link

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  • Reduced Outdoor Activity

Teens Are Physically Unhealthy

% of Teens with Poor Health Habits

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A Pessimistic Outlook

% of 12th Graders Who Expect Certain Outcomes

% of 12th Graders Agreeing with Pessimistic World Statements

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The Cards Are Stacked…

% of 12th Graders Agreeing Women Face Discrimination in Getting a College Education

% of 12th Graders Agreeing Women Face Discrimination in Certain Areas

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  • Value External Validation (Likes)

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  • Helicopter Parenting

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  • Economic and Social Uncertainty

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  • Reduced Autonomy

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External Locus of Control

External Locus of Control by Gender

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Conclusion: Resources and Final Notes

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Actionable Resources

✓ Launching School-Wide Programs: Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) for SEL implementation guides

✓ Creating a Supportive Environment: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for educational materials and activities

✓ Fostering Community Partnerships: SAMHSA's treatment locator tool for connecting with local services

✓ Engagement Families: Child Mind Institute and American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry for parent toolkits

✓ Taking Data—Driven Approaches: CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) for health risk behavior assessments

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Our Three Centers Offer…

    • Partial Hospitalization Programs
    • Intensive Outpatient Programs
    • Family & Indiv. Therapy
  • Licensed for Mental Health & �Substance Use
  • Locations in The Colony, �Preston Center, and Plano
  • Daytime & Afterschool Hours

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  • Weekly Individual Tutoring
  • 50-Minute Individual/Family Session
  • Reflect Wellness Curriculum:
    • Nutrition
    • Physical Health / Exercise
    • Mindfulness

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Thank You!

Shawn O’Connor

CEO, Reflections Lifestyle Center

shawn.oconnor@reflectionslifestyle.com

(603) 660-7292