Youth Mental Health Day 2024: Empowering the Next Generation to #ControlTheScroll
Youth Mental Health Day 2024, celebrated on September 19th, comes at a crucial time. As digital natives, today’s young people are more connected than ever before, but this connection comes with its own set of challenges. This year’s theme, #ControlTheScroll, is a call to action: equipping young people with the knowledge and confidence to use digital technology and social media in ways that support, rather than harm, their mental health.
The Digital Landscape: A Double-Edged Sword
Social media and digital technology offer remarkable opportunities for connection, learning, and self-expression. However, the same platforms that bring us together can also drive anxiety, depression, and loneliness. The endless scroll of content, much of which is curated to portray idealised versions of life, can lead young people to compare themselves unfavourably to others. This can erode self-esteem and create unrealistic expectations of what their lives should look like, who they should be or how they should behave.
Studies show a worrying link between excessive social media use and mental health issues. The Royal Society for Public Health in the UK found that platforms like Instagram and Snapchat are particularly detrimental to young people’s mental health, exacerbating feelings of inadequacy and anxiety. As social media becomes more embedded in daily life, it is vital that we empower young people to navigate this landscape safely and thoughtfully.
Why Youth Mental Health Matters
Adolescence and young adulthood are critical periods for mental health. Half of all mental health conditions begin by age 14, but most cases go undetected and untreated. Early intervention is key to preventing long-term mental health issues, which is why Youth Mental Health Day is an important opportunity to keep the subject at the forefront.
Mental health is not just the absence of illness—it’s about thriving in life, feeling confident, resilient, and able to cope with life’s challenges. When young people are mentally healthy, they can form healthy relationships, make better decisions, and achieve their full potential. Conversely, poor mental health can hinder academic performance, strain relationships, and increase the risk of substance abuse, self-harm, and even suicide.
#ControlTheScroll: Taking Back Control
The #ControlTheScroll campaign is about putting young people in the driver’s seat of their digital lives. It’s about recognising the impact of endless scrolling and consumption of content, and learning to use social media in a way that’s empowering, not overwhelming. This involves:
- Setting Boundaries: Encourage young people to set time limits on their social media use. This could be as simple as not using their phones during meals or before bed or designating certain times of the day as “scroll-free” zones. Using technology prior to or whilst in bed can have significant negative impact on sleep patterns due to overstimulation. An ideal bedroom (which we know might be almost impossible!) should be virtually technology free, or at least with everything off/sleeping when it comes to bedtime!
- Mindful Consumption: Teach young people to be critical of the content they consume. Not everything on social media is real, and it’s important to recognise when content is making them feel bad about themselves. It’s important to encourage young people to think about the motivation or drivers of the people who are posting or the news/information site sharing information. Helping young people understand that everyone shares information through their own lens and it’s affected by their motivations, politics, personality etc can help young people to understand that the “perfect” lives of influencers are unlikely to be perfect and some people have disingenuous reasons to spread panic and misinformation.
- Positive Use of Technology: Highlight the positive aspects of digital technology, such as using apps that promote mental well-being, staying connected with loved ones, or engaging in online communities that provide support and encouragement.
- Developing Digital Resilience: Equip young people with the skills to cope with the negative aspects of social media. This includes knowing how to handle online bullying, raising concerns if they feel they are being manipulated or interacting with someone who is not who they say they are, recognising when it’s time to take a break, and understanding that it’s okay to unfollow or block accounts that contribute to negative feelings.
The Role of Parents, Teachers, and the Community
Supporting young people in #ControlTheScroll is not just their responsibility—it’s a collective effort. Parents can model healthy social media habits, educators can integrate digital literacy into the curriculum, and the community can create safe spaces where young people can talk openly about their mental health. Often, young people are far better versed in new technology than parents but you can catch up, there’s lots of great online guidance or why not undertake some short training through organisations such as NSPCC (https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/free-online-safety-group-workshops) or explore digital skills sessions through Futurelearn (https://www.futurelearn.com/)
Sign your young person up to the fantastic digital skills learning through Barclays at https://www.barclays.co.uk/digital-confidence/digital-wings
Conclusion: A Call to Action
Youth Mental Health Day 2024 is a reminder that we all have a role to play in supporting the mental health of young people. By embracing the #ControlTheScroll campaign, we can help them navigate the complexities of digital life with confidence and resilience. Let’s work together to ensure that digital technology serves as a tool for growth, connection, and well-being, rather than a source of stress and anxiety.
On this Youth Mental Health Day, let’s commit to empowering young people to take control of their mental health—online and offline. The future depends on it.
