The Connection Between Online Safety and Mental Health: What Parents and Students Need to Know This School Year

The Connection Between Online Safety and Mental Health: What Parents and Students Need to Know This School Year

Tanisha Winfrey, MSW, LCSW
Behavioral Health Counselor

As the new school year begins, it’s more important than ever for parents and children to understand the connection between internet safety and mental health. With 95% of teenagers and nearly 40% of children, ages eight to 12 using some form of social media, the digital world plays a major role in their daily lives.

While social media and online platforms can offer opportunities for learning and connection, they also come with serious risks, especially for young people who may be struggling emotionally. Children and teens facing mental health challenges may be more vulnerable to online dangers, including grooming, exploitation, and risky behavior. Without clear boundaries, they may overshare personal information or engage in inappropriate conversations without realizing the consequences.

Cyberbullying and online harassment are also major concerns, with links to low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts. Excessive gaming, while a source of entertainment, can spiral into addiction. This can lead to sleep problems, lower academic performance, and social withdrawal, all of which can further impact mental health.

Children and teens may also be exposed to violent, sexual, or self-harm-related content on social media platforms. This kind of exposure can desensitize them to harmful behaviors or normalize unhealthy coping mechanisms, further affecting their emotional wellbeing.

How Parents Can Support Safe and Healthy Online Habits

Here are some ways parents can promote a safer and more mentally healthy online environment:

• Talk openly and often: Create a safe, judgment-free space where your child feels comfortable sharing their online experiences, especially if they’ve been targeted by bullying or come across disturbing content.

• Educate and be understanding: Rather than banning technology, teach your child how to recognize online risks and navigate digital spaces responsibly. Discuss the importance of privacy, appropriate interactions, and why it’s okay to say no or block someone.

• Monitor screen time and behavior: Keep an eye out for changes in mood, sleep, or academic performance, which could indicate a problem. Use parental controls when necessary but aim for transparency and collaboration rather than strict surveillance.

• Encourage offline connections: Support friendships and activities that happen outside of screens. Positive, in-person interactions are essential for building emotional resilience and social skills.

• Remind them that social media is curated: Help your child understand that most people only post the best parts of their lives online. Comparing themselves to these highlight reels can distort their self-image and lead to unrealistic expectations.

By fostering open communication, setting healthy boundaries, and being proactive about online safety and emotional wellbeing, families can help children develop the tools they need to thrive, both online and offline.

Tanisha Winfrey, MSW, LCSW
Behavioral Health Counselor

Coping with Politically Induced Stress

Coping with Politically
Induced Stress

By Lynn Schlossberger, LPC

Perhaps you’ve seen a cartoon by David Sipress that’s been circulating on social media.  Two stressed people are walking down a city street, and one says to the other, “My desire to be well informed is currently at odds with my desire to remain sane”.  Do you relate?

If so, you have a lot of company.  77% of Americans tell researchers that politics is a source of significant stress in their lives, and constant exposure to the news creates an environment of constant unease.   The American Psychological Association has published findings that increasingly, people perceive political discussion as threatening, and feel powerless.  Fear motivates us to engage in “doomscrolling” to monitor disturbing news.  Suicidal ideation is up 5% this year.   Welcome to Mental Health Awareness Month.

Political anxiety is different from Generalized Anxiety Disorder; it disrupts social cohesion, when political opponents are seen as intentionally threatening our wellbeing, and our confidence in the protections of the social order is faltering.  It is different because political influencers deliberately trigger fear in their messaging, to cultivate emotional decision making. Generalized Anxiety responds well to self soothing behaviors.  Political anxiety challenges our belief that the world is a safe place, and that opponents share our moral convictions.  Trust is damaged.  Influencers are suspect.  Non-allies are demonized.

If we were talking about some other trigger of anxiety, like germs or interstate traffic, we would think about reducing our exposure, to mitigate our symptoms.  But politics is part of the ocean in which we swim; we can avoid thinking about it, but disengagement comes at a cost.  Loss of confidence in our ability to make things better is a recipe for depression. The challenge, then: how much stress can you tolerate, in the meantime?

When we feel stressed about the politically toxic environment, we often feel isolated.  One helpful response is to focus on what you can control.  Find a group that supports your convictions.  It doesn’t have to be perfect.  Take a small positive step.  Find a supportive colleague, or a neighbor with whom you can find common cause.  Drink coffee together.  Know that your convictions matter, and being in community amplifies your voice.

Yes, do manage your exposure to political news.  It’s ok to take a break and watch Food Network or cat videos.  Be judicious.  What kind of movies support your vulnerable self right now? Persistent anger is exhausting.  Engagement in real world chaos doesn’t have to be all or nothing.  There is a time for distraction and a time for engagement.  Rinse.  Repeat.

Be aware of untested thoughts that accompany political anxiety.  Worst case scenarios are possible, but not inevitable.  Test your anxious assumptions.

Cultivating empathy is critical, if trust is to be restored, and with it, a sense that the world is a hospitable place.  When an influencer derides empathy, their motivations become suspect. Set good boundaries with people who use provocative language to express their views, and let them know when the boundaries have been violated.  Remove yourself.  Prioritize finding common humanity, and willingness to listen, so as to not miss an opportunity to cultivate empathy.   We can disagree vehemently and respectfully. We can judge a viewpoint as dangerous or unwise, without judging the person holding it.  We can be productively angry with a political faction, and notice moments of unexpected grace.  We can find our voice, and cultivate our peace.

In times of great stress, we need clear vision, and we need one another. Namaste.

Lynn Schlossberger LPC