Teen Screen Addiction: Impact on Brains & Behavior - Mental Health Solutions for Parents and Counselors

Description: Gaming disorder, also known as video game addiction, refers to compulsive engagement in video games leading to negative consequences in adolescent’s life. This condition is characterized by changes in brain matter, loss of executive functioning, poor decision-making, impulse control issues, emotional regulation challenges, lack of motivation, lack of social skills, lack of hygiene, obesity, an increased risk of substance abuse and some even say violence toward peers. The diagnostic criteria described in DSM-5-TR for gaming disorder are: · Being preoccupied with online/offline gaming · Experience of unpleasant symptoms when gaming is taken away · Need to spend increasing amounts of time engaged in games · Unsuccessful attempts to control participation in games · Loss of interest in previous hobbies and entertainment except for games While there is research showing gaming can provide some cognitive benefits, such as improved attention control and rapid decision-making ability; behavioral scientists at the CDC have shown excessive gaming can pose serious health risks, especially for boys. Clinical data cited by the APA is pointing to gaming disorder as being a significant factor related to depression, anxiety, social phobia, conduct problems and lower academic achievements. ""Gaming has been associated with sleep deprivation, insomnia and circadian rhythm disorders, depression, aggression, and anxiety. There has also been concern that exposure to extreme violence commonly found in video games can desensitize teens and young adults to such violence, causing emotional problems and even leading to young people committing acts of violence."" - Harvard Medical School Screen addiction is not limited to boys. Pew Research has been tracking the sharp rise in mental health issues among young women since 2010 and discovered: • 97% of teens say they use the internet daily, and many are on social media platforms like TikTok, where 67% of teen girls report usage. • 70% of teenagers have reported being cyberbullied on social media, while 50% have experienced symptoms of depression due to excessive social media use. • Youth who spend more than 5 hours a day on social media are twice as likely to develop mental health issues. • Emergency room visits for self-harm rose by 188% among teenage girls and 48% among boys since 2020. Social media apps have become an integral part of everyone’s life and can offer connectivity, or information, they also pose significant risks, especially for female teen users. Among these risks, screen addiction stands out as a high-risk issue, leading to mental health crises and even suicidal thoughts. During this intensive training, we will map how screen dependence traps young people and discuss proven behavioral steps to break free from the desperation they feel to find real life again. Young brains are prone to endless scrolling that keeps female users engaged, leading to hours of mindless browsing and feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem from comparing their real lives to the carefully curated online personas and highlight reels of others’ lives. This is fueled by the pursuit of validation through likes, comments, and shares, which becomes addictive from the release of dopamine providing instant gratification, followed by heightened anxiety and even depression leading to more compulsive checking and even higher anxiety levels. For others, social media opens the door for virtual attacks, cyberbullying, body shaming, or negative comments which take a negative toll on mental health when young people, especially girls don’t feel they measure up to the beauty standards and lifestyle of the influencers they follow. There are logical steps to guide youth away from the desperation of screen addiction, chronic loneliness, and anxiety. The interactive training guide given to all participants will map signs of addiction, and emotional dependency on social media. Screen addiction is a real threat to youth mental health. By understanding the trap screens present and taking deliberate steps, young people can regain control, protect their well-being, and find healthier ways to engage with technology for their life ahead. This training is about the risks of screen addiction and more importantly how to navigate those risks. Those working with unmotivated, socially anxious or depressed adolescent males will especially benefit from this training which blends clinical research with solutions to break free from the risk of addiction. 

CE Broker Tracking #: 20-1245858 

This event is sponsored by FMHCA, an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider. FMHCA NBCC Provider# 2058. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  FMHCA is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. This course is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, LMHC, LMFT, LCSW – FMHCA CE Broker #: 50-748

Learning Objectives:

1.  Understanding the risk factors of screen addiction on brain development, particularly on delayed maturation and impaired social skills
2. Understanding the risk factors of screen addiction on brain development, particularly on delayed maturation and impaired social skills Identify how heavy social media usage fuels feelings of isolation and chronic loneliness plaguing America’s youth
3. Ability to identify the connection between screen usage and mental health symptoms
4. Develop a process to guide youth from struggling with chronic loneliness, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, toward socialization in real time with relational connection instead of screens.

About the Presenters:

Dwight Bain is a Nationally Certified Counselor who has spoken to thousands of audiences about mental health and behavioral change. He has influenced organizations like Disney, Toyota, DuPont, The United Way, Advent Health, the Florida Department of Education, and the United States Army. Bain is an author interviewed on over 500 radio and television stations; quoted in over 20 books and 100 newspapers/websites including: New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Atlanta Journal, Orlando Sentinel, FoxBusiness.com, MSNBC.com and Yahoo! Dwight’s skill as a communicator led Toastmaster to select him as one of the best speakers in Florida. He is a lifelong resident of Orlando where he lives with his wife Sheila and an assortment of rescue pets. After 30 years together they always have suitcases packed ready for their next adventure.