The World Health Organization released a new report called the Global Accelerated Action for the Health of Adolescents in which it highlighted growing health concerns for the 1.2 billion adolescents around the world.
One of the most notable issues highlighted in the report is the risk of increased time spent with technology among adolescents. Increased time in front of technological devices has caused an increased risk of poor health- physically as well as mentally- in young children.
Scotland and the UK especially saw dramatic increases in this problem among adolescents. For two or more hours a weekday, 79.9 percent of girls and 83.6 percent of boys in Scotland spent two hours or more using a computer, tablet, or phone. In the UK, 74.6 per cent of girls and 76.5 per cent of boys were cited. The ages of the adolescents were between 11 and 15 years old, which is a critical phase of cognitive development. Excess use of technological devices can produce many of the same effects as substance use in addition to many other associated mental health issues. Depression, anxiety, trauma from cyber bullying, and eating disorders have all been attributed to technology use in adolescents. To complicate the matter further, all of these mental health issues have been associated with an increased risk of drug addiction and alcoholism. 200,000 children in 42 countries were surveyed and studied for the report. Computer use by young girls in Scotland was the number one ranking issue in the entirety of the report.
Addiction and alcoholism in adolescent ages can rapidly grown into an adulthood problem. At a younger age, the brain is more vulnerable to the harmful impacts of mental health issues and addiction. Should addiction not become a problem, the development of associated mental health issues in response to technology use can creating lasting impact on the brain as well as the body. Mental health is a growing concern in Scotland for adults and adolescents alike.
Rehabilitation through residential treatment in adulthood is often the answer for remedying many issues developed in adolescence. Castle Craig has served Scotland and surrounding areas for over 25 years, providing compassionate, quality care for addiction and mental health issues. For more information, please call our 24 hour free confidential phone-line: 01721 546 263. From outside the UK please call: +44 808 271 7500 (normal charges apply).
