'Teens, Social Media, and Mental Health:' Hope for Depression's Annual Public Symposium

Hope for Depression Research Foundation (HDRF) and founder Audrey Gruss hosted its annual public symposium “Teens, Social Media, and Mental Health” on May 8. The panel, moderated by Elyse Fox, founder of Sad Girls Club, was held in May in honor of Mental Health Month and included HDRF-affiliated researchers and psychiatrists as well as young adult and teen activists.

Speakers on the panel included Em Odesser, 17-year-old Editor-in-Chief and co-creator of Teen Eye Magazine, writers Scarlett Curtis and Philip Eli, doctors Alexandra Harris, M.D., P.h.D., Marianne Chai, medical director at New York Center for Living, and UCLA’s Dr. Yalda T. Uhls, author of Media Moms and Digital Dads. Louisa Benton, executive director of Hope for Depression Research Foundation, introduced and started off the panel by asking the question “How are smartphones impacting future generations’ mental health?”  

The panel discussed both positive and negative aspects of interconnectivity, cell phone reliance, and social media networks on our culture and ‘mind brain health.’ They also answered questions from an audience of over 150 people including actors, teens, and their parents. Actors in the audience were Justina Adorno from ABC’s Grand Hotel, Matt Flynn from FOX’s Gotham, Robert Manzell from Netflix’s Iron Fist, and Alyssa Kempinski from HBO’s The Deuce.

The good and the bad of social media

The panel agreed that using social media a lot can harm self-esteem. An example of this trend is seen in the rise of the term “FOMO,” otherwise known as “Fear of Missing Out.” Teens are vulnerable to feeling this way when they are constantly exposed to what their peers are doing on social media.

“We should not judge our interiors by everybody else’s exteriors,” said Em Odesser according to a press release.

On the other hand, social media can also create a sense of community for teens who may feel isolated or out of place.

“If it wasn’t for social media, I would be far lonelier because, in a community that I don’t always feel comfortable in, I can text my best friends in other continents and feel better,” said Odesser.

Startling statistics

In the last five years, depression rates have risen by 33 percent in young people, and suicide rates in girls have risen by 65%. Many experts say this trend is linked to increased social media usage. Experts continue to the question, is social media causing depression or are kids turning to it because other factors are making them depressed?