Today, with Dr. Bradley Zicherman of Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, we’re going to go over the impact that screens have on our kids’ mental health, and the rise of suicides in youth.

 

The goal is to bring awareness to a subject that’s hard to talk about and to help spot patterns in our own kids.

 

In 2020, the CDC named suicide as the second leading cause of death in 15- to 19-year-olds. A 2018 study on teenagers found links between depression, suicidal thoughts, and the increase in screen time, which all started to rise around 2010—making the researchers believe that smartphones create a negative impact.

 

If you ever feel that your child needs immediate help, dial 988 to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 

 

Let's make sure we’re setting a good example to our kids by letting them know that you see a therapist. Put down devices and look for activities to do as a family. Create a space that makes you and your family feel safe. Be empathetic. And the easiest one, that’s often hardest to put into action? Let's have fun together.