The Bottomless Scroll: Screen use and teen mental health

Episode Summary:Host Dr. Nicholas Chadi speaks with Dr. Emma Duerden about whether increased teen screen time is connected to rising anxiety and depression. Practical tips for identifying problematic use and managing screen use as a family are covered.People:Dr. Nicholas Chadi—host and paediatrician specialized in adolescent medicineDr. Emma Duerden—Canada Research Chair in Neuroscience and Learning Disorders at Western UniversityKey Takeaways:Excessive screen use (more than 2-3 hours per day) is a risk factor for anxiety and depression in teensInterrupted sleep and daily activities, and behavioural changes like increased irritability, aggression are red flags for problematic screen useThe issues around screen use and social media are beyond individual or family fixes. Increased digital literacy in schools, public health awareness and legislation, and safer products are all key to making screen use safer for kids and teens..Additional Resources:Canadian Pediatric Society’s Center for Healthy Screen Use: healthyscreenuse.cps.caSafer Online Spaces: An advocacy movement to make the Internet safer for kidsThe Developing Brain Lab (Western University)Blog post: Navigating tech with toddlers, kids, and teensFrom Schoolyard to Screen: Bullying in a digital world