Factors that influence mental health in young people cont.
groups. This can prevent trans young people from engaging in exercise, which is a protecting factor (53). Visit Supporting an LGBTQIA+ young person to learn how to adapt the Youth MHFA action plan. Social media and screen use “There’s a fine line between public validation and self-validation in social media and at a young age before you’ve even figured out who you want to be as a person, you are seeing all of these people looking like they’ve got everything figured out and are being influenced by them.” Zara, 15 years old Why can this be a risk factor? The internet offers opportunities for young people to learn, play games, be creative, foster and sustain relationships, partake in activism, understand different backgrounds and viewpoints, and be more open and honest about their feelings. Being part of an online community can support digital literacy skills, and can also be a place to reach out for support (54). Whilst these benefits should not be overlooked, there are mental health risks that come with prolonged screen-time and social media use. What do we need to know? Research suggests that negative physical health effects arising from screen and social media use are due to the displacement of other activities, such as exercising, seeing others face-to-face, or reading a book. Sleep may be impacted and disrupted when a young person is contactable on social media at any time during the night. It has also been reported that blue light from screens poses potential risks to sleep (55).
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