On March 26, there was a New Jersey Psychiatric Association conference in Iselin titled “Psychiatry and Technology in the 21st Century.”
Among the topics covered were the effect of technology on children’s emotional and social development, and the effect of technology on mental health.
The keynote speaker at the conference — Michael Rich, M.D., M.P.H, of the Center on Media and Child Health, also of Harvard Medical School and the Boston Children’s Hospital — presented the lecture, “Mental Health in the Digital Age: Potentials and Perils.”
A series of slides disclosed the trends over the years. The public health issues in 1911 were sanitation in crowded slums, and pollution. Causes of death: infectious disease, birth defects and cancer.
In 2011 acquired health risks (obesity, substance abuse, and sexual risk-taking) gave way to the leading causes of death among the young: injury, homicide and suicide.
In a country where more homes have seven televisions than just one, the largest block of a youth’s day is spent absorbing media output: TV, smart phone, computer, game console, and fractionally reading material.
In this presentation it was pointed out that heavy, compared to light media usage, is associated with poor grades, misbehaviors and lack of personal contentment. Cause and effect is less clear.
Rich pointed out that violence in media produces fear/anxiety, desensitization, and increased aggression, which correspond to the roles of victims, bystanders and bullies, respectively.
Another topic discussed was that: “All media are educational: it’s what they teach and how well they teach it that varies.”
He pointed to the website of his center — www.cmch.tv — as the source for information on the research that his group is accumulating on these issues.
Also at the conference was the symposium, “Digital World — Impact on Behavior, Development and Relationships.”
Speaker Paula C. Rodriquez Rust, Ph.D., of Spectrum Diversity, LLC, spoke on “Cyber Bullying — Nothing Virtual About It.”
Rodriquez’s work with families and school were highlighted in her discussion of the topics “Identifying at Risk Students,” “Warning Signs at School,” and “Helping Victims.”
Rodriquez provided a list of resources for schools, students and their parents (and their doctors), which is available on her website: www.spectrumdiversity.org.
Cyber bullying is the problem of kids picking on other kids by texting, Facebook entries, or postings on You-Tube. It is an extension of regular bullying, which has received a lot of attention in recent years.
Modern technology is having a big impact on all the members of our society, but none more so than today’s young people. Parents and educators may find the above-cited Web sites good starting places for information and helpful action.
—Dr. William Hankin, MD is Board Certified in general psychiatry and is a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. For more information about this or other issues, contact Hankin at his Atlantic County office in Linwood 609-653-1400, or his Cape May Court House office at 609-465-4424.
Or visit www.WHHMD.com.
