TAMPA, Fla. — “Speak Up! Let’s Talk About Mental Health” is a nonprofit working to encourage conversations and curriculum focused on behavioral health at summer camps and after-school programs.
The founder, Dawn Handley, said she hopes it also encourages kids to trade in their mobile devices for more adventures.
A recent advisory by the U.S. Surgeon General warns about the effects social media use can have on the mental health of young people.
The advisory suggests growing concerns about social media use include a variety of topics, ranging from body image, to exposure to hate and self-harm content.
It also references several studies that suggest exposure to that content can present risk or harm. And that exposure appears to be excessive, the advisory states.
“On a typical weekday, nearly one in three adolescents report using screens (most commonly social media) until midnight or later,” the advisory said.
Using various studies, the summary says there are several factors contributing to concerns.
- When asked about the impact of social media on their body image: 46% of adolescents aged 13-17 said social media makes them feel worse, 40% said it makes them feel neither better nor worse, and only 14% said it makes them feel better.
- Roughly two-thirds (64%) of adolescents are “often” or “sometimes” exposed to hate-based content.
- Some social media platforms show suicide and self-harm-related content including even live depictions of self-harm acts, content which, in certain tragic cases, has been linked to childhood deaths.
- LINK: Read the full summary.
Dawn Handley lost her son Scott to suicide in 2020. She said he struggled with mental health for 10 years. In Scott’s honor, she started “Speak Up! Let’s Talk About Mental Health.”
Handley said she hopes the program also introduces kids to other activities to explore instead of constantly scrolling on social media.
“We need to give them coping skills, we need to show them other fun things to do get them off that screen time,” said Handley, who said music, art, meditation and involving children in community projects are just some of the things children are introduced to.
Handley said she also hopes the self-expression and encouragement helps build their confidence.
“I want the kids to know that there is no perfect — do the best that you can do, be kind,” she said. “Be proud of who you are and learn to be a good friend.”