USING COMMON SENSE
Teens are turning to online sources for
mental health support By Ilana Lowery
AFTER A YEAR OF LOCKDOWNS, remote
from 2018, so, too, has the importance
schooling and the disruption of social
of social media.
norms, teens and young adults are
Kimberly McWilliams, integrated
“It has been very challenging for these kids,” says McWilliams, who is a licensed professional counselor. “They
reporting growing levels of depression,
site care director for Terros Health in
stress and anxiety. They also admit to
Phoenix — a health care organization
Common Sense Media partnered
turning to social media and telehealth
offering mental health services — also
with Hopelab to better understand how
to find help.
has been seeing an “incredible” increase
young people have been using social
in depression and anxiety among the
media and digital health tools to take
“Coping with COVID-19: How Young
children and young adults Terros serves.
care of their mental health during the
People Use Digital Media to Manage
And sadly, she says there has been an
pandemic. Nearly four in 10 teens and
Their Mental Health,” found that while
increase in substance abuse among older
young adults (38 percent) surveyed in
depression rates increased significantly
kids.
the fall of 2020 reported symptoms of
A Common Sense Media study,
14 February 2021 RaisingARIZONAKids.com
need socialization.”
