Members of the Little Rock Rotary Club gathered at the Clinton Center on Tuesday to discuss what can be done about growing anxiety among teenagers.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Little Rock Rotary Club met Tuesday at the Clinton Center with the theme of teen mental health in mind.
The conversation began with a book called “The Anxious Generation.” A study by psychologist Jonathan Haidt blames smartphones and overprotective parents.
The panel included Stacia Myers, a child mental health therapist, Ben Hopper, who works with a local youth life group, and Steve Straesl, principal of a Catholic boys’ high school.
During the meeting, Straesl cited several negative effects of mobile phone use.
“It’s social deprivation, sleep deprivation, divided attention and addiction,” he explained.
Myers also explained how she has seen evidence of this in her work as a therapist.
“The number one reason for the calls I get, whether it’s women or men, children or adolescents, is anxiety,” Myers added.
So what is the solution to this epidemic?
She suggested that parents should restrict their children’s use of smartphones until they turn 16 and give them flip phones instead.
Streissel said parents need to be responsible and put their children in an environment where they can thrive.
“Parents are shielding their kids from the outside world. They’re overprotecting them from the outside world, but they’re giving them free access to the virtual world,” Streissel added.
“The Anxious Generation” has been a hot topic lately. It’s currently number two on the New York Times non-fiction bestseller list.
