The data are alarming: a series of studies show that, over the last two decades, the mental health of young people has worsened, becoming a global issue. Today, one in seven adolescents in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) experience some mental disorder –we are talking about almost 16 million adolescents aged 10 to 19 in the region. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among adolescents aged 15-19 in LAC, and anxiety and depression account for almost 50 percent of mental disorders among adolescents aged 10-19, with higher prevalence in girls (62.6%) than in boys (33.8%).
At the same time, internet use has skyrocketed in the last decade, from around 2 billion users worldwide in 2010 to around 5 billion in 2021. The change has particularly affected young people: 71% of people aged 15-24 are online, compared to 57% in other age groups.
In this scenario, understanding the relationship between the socioemotional well-being of young people and exposure to the Internet becomes crucial in any effort to reduce the incidence of mental health disorders and to develop policies and actions to care for the well-being of this population. However, quantifying the impact of internet consumption on socioemotional well-being is complex, because both variables are mutually determined.
Internet and Socioemotional Well-being: A Complex Relationship
Increased internet consumption can affect mental well-being through different channels. First, internet use has improved the efficiency with which we carry out different activities such as accessing and sharing information, communicating, buying goods and services, and finding entertainment. This could have a direct or indirect effect on well-being by freeing up time and changing patterns of time use.
A second channel relates to the fact that the Internet has enabled new activities that did not exist before. For example, the type of remote social interaction offered through digital social networks, instant messaging, video calls and online games. This can have direct effects on well-being (positive or negative), as social interactions are a key part of our emotional state.
Furthermore, these new forms of social interaction broadened the reference group of individuals, potentially altering their self-esteem and aspirations, and thus affecting satisfaction with their lives. They could also bias the basis for social comparisons, given that, as some studies suggest, online social networks are used more for sharing positive than negative information. Finally, unlimited access to low-cost online information and entertainment could also promote addictive behaviors.
But, at the same time, a person’s own socioemotional well-being determines his or her decisions on how much and how to connect to the Internet. Hence the complexity of analyzing this relationship.
A recent IDB study solves this problem by using the expansion of the broadband Internet network that took place in the second decade of the 21st century in Uruguay and quantifying the impact that the probability of broadband access in a neighborhood has on the socioemotional well-being of young people.
The study finds that high-speed Internet access has mixed effects: on the one hand, a positive effect is observed, as it reduces the probability of young people feeling lonely; but, on the other hand, an increase in the probability of feeling worried frequently, to the point of not being able to sleep, is observed. It also increased the likelihood of making medical consultations, although no effect was observed on attendance at a psychologist or psychiatrist.
The analysis of the potential mechanisms behind these results reveals that high-speed Internet access decreases satisfaction with one’s own way of being in young people. However, no effects are found on participation in group activities (such as political parties and student centers) or on the likelihood of engaging in leisure and sports activities.
The analysis of the results positions women as a group particularly vulnerable to the risks of the Internet, since for them there is no evidence of a significant drop in the probability of feeling lonely. The results also show an increase in the probability of alcohol and marijuana consumption, which shows that access to the Internet can also affect risky behaviors.
What Can Public Policies Do for Youth Well-being?
Preventive actions in this area are essential. On the one hand, educational institutions can work with students to address the challenges of their relationship with the online world and strengthen their capacity to foster a healthy relationship with it. Information and awareness campaigns are important tools to foster a supportive and understanding environment, as well as to decrease stigma about mental disorders. In addition, the education system can identify and implement early interventions for students at risk, as well as refer students to professional services when necessary.
In addition, and taking into account the findings of this study regarding the greater likelihood of making medical consultations, contact with health professionals would be especially relevant for appropriate referral to mental health specialists, increasing early detection, especially in the case of adolescents and young women.
It should be noted that the use of technology also represents an opportunity. In recent years, one area that has been developed to combat mental health problems is the use of digital tools such as mobile applications, the use of platforms, teletherapy, or chatbots powered by artificial intelligence, among others. While this could be a cost-effective tool – given the gap that exists between the needs of adolescents and the mental health supply in the region – these interventions have not been applied on a large scale, so it is essential to recognize their limitations and potential risks. They must also incorporate ethical and cultural considerations to ensure that these technologies contribute effectively to mental health care in a responsible and evidence-based manner.
In this context, at the IDB we are carrying out several projects, among them, a technical cooperation that seeks to generate evidence for the promotion of digital interventions that can be applied to prevent or mitigate mental health problems in adolescents and young people. Together with the Ministry of Public Health of Uruguay, we are developing a demand management system for adolescent mental health, with the inclusion of a digital triage in a sample of health care providers in the country. And with the Ministry of Health of Chile, we are working on the implementation of a First Psychological Help line for adolescents through a Chat based on a digital system for clinical decision support, by means of natural language processing of the care.
Do you know of other digital interventions that can be applied to prevent or mitigate mental health problems in adolescents and young people? Share them in the comments.
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