According to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, there is a “moderately strong” link between screentime and depressive symptoms. The risks of developing low wellbeing can be broken down into ‘three Cs,’ which consist of: – Content – what is being looked at (exposure to violence, hate speech, fake news) – Contact – who is being spoken to (strangers and people presenting false identities) – Conduct – how the young person presents themselves and engages with others (vulnerable to grooming and child abuse, cyber-bullying, and non-consensual sharing of self-posted sexual images) (55) Social media has also been found to promote unhealthy body image and increased access to pro-eating disorder content. Girls and young women with existing body image concerns are at an increased risk of being affected mentally by this content (56). Young people have also shared that celebrities and TV shows have caused them to worry about their body image (50). Socioeconomic conditions Why can this be a risk factor? Low socioeconomic conditions have a significant impact on a young person’s mental health. Both urban and rural living come with associated risks for developing poor mental health. What do we need to know? Young people who experience disrupted education, inadequate housing, or poverty are more likely to develop poor mental health. There is evidence that a higher percentage of young people who self-harm receive free school meals compared with those that don’t (57). Studies have also shown that risks associated with poor mental health aren’t always as directly related to money –
Page 69
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker