Screen Time & Suicide: Why We Should Get Out and Play.
It’s the middle of summer in the suburbs. There is a sting of the mid-morning sun as you wander past a bus stop. You’d be excused for thinking it was empty, due to the silence. Upon walking past however, you notice four teenagers sitting together. However, there is not a whisper between them. They each have their heads buried into their phones.
Leisure time is so often spent sliding fingers across a screen, viewing meaningless posts which do not provide any benefit to the reader or society. How can this spare time, which is being spent in a way which is directly linked to harmful outcomes, be turned into something which will inspire, enlighten, or unite them.
The push for all persons to engage in team or sporting environments throughout high school and into adulthood should be made more prevalent.
How social media has negative implications on teenagers is something that is much spoken of, however, often lacking is a solution to the problem. Screen time is directly linked to an increase in depression, anxiety, and suicide. Utilising spare time in a productive way, such as physical activity or playing in a team environment, is directly linked to having strong mental health.
Many people however, might not enjoy sports, or are not willing to commit to the regimental schedules of a team. Studies from the World Health Organisation show that any sort of physical activity is linked to an improved mental state. It is linked to many reasons, one of which is the endorphins released and the serotonin levels increasing during exorcise. The same sensations cannot be matched by time spent in front of a screen.
While there is a lack of research on the link between serotonin levels and suicide, there is suggestion they do hold a strong relationship. Low serotonin is consistently seen in suicidal patients/ victims.
So with children having their screen times increasing, to where it is nearly 30% of the time they are awake, the next step will be to have an increase with associated effects. Dependency on screens does not halt at puberty, as with age comes increased exposure to social media platforms and new media outlets. Increasing exposure is increasing chances of become a statistic. In 2018, suicide accounted for 43.4% of deaths in males aged 15–19, and 34% for women in the same age bracket. It is utterly alarming that a melting pot of harmful resources have not been more criticised. Although, in today’s landscape, the public would find such details and warnings through screens anyway.
As a society, our dependency on utilising screens is inhibiting our abilities to grow, evolve, and connect with one another. That is why sport and activity provides such a pivotal platform in the relationship between suicide and screens. Through activities, you can find your sense of belonging that holds real meaning, unlike belonging to a section of the public which subscribes to PewDiePie.
Having real, tangible relationships with people, and uniting through shared experiences is non-replicable in any other environment. There are endless options for people to engage in sport now, with the Australian tradition of cricket in the summer and footy in the winter very much a thing of the past. Beach volleyball, hockey, basketball, baseball, softball, dodgeball, rock climbing, ultimate disk as well as countless other sports, are there to be participated in.
Evidently, spending excessive time on screens is harmful to people, especially adolescents. Strive to have that rush of endorphins, and your serotonin levels boosted. Give the pat on the back, don’t just yell at people through a headset. Don’t look at someone who has climbed a mountain on Instagram, climb it yourself.
