May is Mental Health Month and as the mental health crisis continues to impact adolescents, it’s important to equip ourselves to support them.
We know from our research that mental health and technology are intrinsically linked, particularly for kids. On one hand, digital media and tech have the power to strengthen social connections and decrease loneliness. On the other, if not used mindfully and intentionally, these tools can negatively impact attention span, physical health, body image, and mental health.
Because technology has the ability to have both positive and negative impacts on children, it is vital for parents and caregivers to have open and honest conversations with kids about their mental health, media use, and the links between the two. Being a part of, and understanding, a child’s digital world can be more productive and fruitful than simply setting rules and restrictions around screen time.
“We should parent in the digital space like we parent in the physical space.
If digital media use is negatively interfering with a child’s daily life, creating or exacerbating problems with their social and mental well-being and academic outcomes, we call this Problematic Interactive Media Use (PIMU). Click here to learn more about PIMU and here to learn about Boston Children’s multi-disciplinary Clinic for Interactive Media and Internet Disorders (CIMAID).
Digital wellness is a positive state of mental, physical, and social-emotional health pursued through intentional, authentic, and balanced engagement with technology and interactive media.
At the Digital Wellness Lab, our work is focused on advancing digital wellness focused practices in the tech industry and embedding digital wellness in pediatric healthcare strategies because we believe that by following the science, we can create an empathetic and respectful world in which our kids can grow up healthy, smart, and kind.
If you have friends, family, and colleagues who could benefit from this newsletter, please pass it on and encourage them to sign up to receive it themselves. If you are interested in supporting our work, please email dwl@childrens.harvard.edu.
Cori Stott Administrative Director The Digital Wellness Lab
Hard to believe the school year is almost over! This month, our Student Advisory Council will be wrapping up their research projects and presenting their findings to members of the tech and healthcare industries and other academics (we’ll share a recap in our June newsletter.)
If you have questions or would like to support our work, please email us at dwl@childrens.harvard.edu.
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All information included in this newsletter is for educational purposes only. For medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your health care provider.
