DAYTON — The American Psychological Association (APA) has new recommendations for teens on social media.
Cutting down on mental health struggles like depression and anxiety is the APA’s goal. They say both parents and teens should have social media literacy and really understand the impact it can have on social connections.
APA recommends parents tailor use based on developmental capabilities, minimize exposure to illegal and cyber hate content, and look out for signs of concerning behavior.
CEO of the American Psychological Association, Dr. Arthur C. Evans, told us “incessant use that disrupts sleep or use that focuses overly on social comparison can lead to depression and anxiety, particularly in young adolescent girls.”
Dayton Children’s is working on a $110 million expansion to their mental health center. They have treated about 7,000 people for behavioral crises in the last year.
Experts say one way you can help someone with these struggles is to have a conversation about it. One tool that can help get the ball rolling is the ‘On Our Sleeves Movement.’
The free resource helps parents start conversations with their kids about mental health. It does this by offering guides on topics like social media, developing healthy habits, and conversation starters.
We spoke to Dr. Kelly Blankenship, an associate chief medical officer for behavioral health at Dayton Children’s Hospital, and asked her what the most important thing parents should know when talking to their kids about mental health.
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“I think one of the most important things is building that connection with a parent and a child,” said Blankenship. “If I could stress one thing, that’s the most important thing, and sometimes parents just don’t know how to start conversations, especially with teenagers. So this can be helpful”
For more information about the ‘On Our Sleeves’ program and Dayton Children’s visit this site HERE.
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