By Ryan Flanagan M.D. and the College Student Committee of The Group for Advancement of Psychiatry

Alex (an amalgamation of several real patients), a high school senior, feeling anxious and lonely, used social media to connect with others. This provided him with a sense of connection, but it was a double-edged sword.

While offering instant access to friends and peers, these connections were often superficial. The online community offered only fleeting relationships and failed to alleviate deeper feelings of loneliness. It also intensified his reliance on validation from others; when he stepped away from his devices, he felt more disconnected and isolated.

When Alex’s school abruptly banned phone use during the school day, his struggles deepened. Without being able to turn to his primary coping mechanism, he felt even more isolated. At the end of each school day, he immediately turned to his phone, spending countless hours scrolling each afternoon and evening.

Reliance on social media came at a cost: slipping grades, lost family connections, and low self-esteem. As his life became more unmanageable, Alex became deeply depressed, prompting his family to seek professional help.

Public health officials have expressed alarm about the youth mental health crisis that started in the 2010s, worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has yet to abate. This crisis has been characterized by increased numbers of individuals with symptoms of anxiety, depression, and self-harm, increased suicide attempts and completed suicides, as well as increased numbers of evaluations for psychiatric emergencies and admissions to psychiatric hospitals. Members of Generation Z (those born between 1997-2012) have been particularly affected.

Social scientists........

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