Should schools be responsible for students' mental health?
considerable | contribute | demonstrate | sufficient | valid
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Think Scientifically
Think Scientifically
Ms. Kahn’s class read an NPR article showing that rates of depression increased a considerable amount for teenagers in the 2010s, while the rates for other age groups stayed about the same. They learned that psychologists point to increased use of smartphones and social media as important contributing factors.
Many teens own a smartphone, and more than 70 percent use social media daily. Phones and social media have valid benefits. They can help students with homework and connect them to friends and family. However, young people who spend more time on social media and less time in-person with others are more likely to experience depression.
After reading this article in class, Ryan wasn’t sure he believed that using his phone made him feel less healthy and happy. Mrs. Kahn suggested he come up with a way to track whether his phone use affected how he felt.
Reported Rates of Depression by Age
Twice a day, Ryan recorded how many total hours he had spent on his phone so far that day and how he was feeling.
What conclusions can you draw from Ryan’s chart? Explain.
What other factors contribute to how someone feels besides time spent on a smartphone?
If you were to study how using your phone and social media affects you, how would you go about it? What else would you want to study? Explain.
Discussion Question:
Discussion Question:
Getting a good night’s sleep is critical for good mental health. Research demonstrates that spending more time on digital devices, especially in the evening, contributes to less sleep. What other factors affect whether a student gets sufficient sleep? Do you think a school could do something to affect whether or not a student gets a full night’s sleep? Why or why not?
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