Social media and smartphones remain at the forefront of conversations about teen well-being. A recent Politico article points out this might be one of the few things all Americans actually agree on, thanks in part to Jonathan Haidt’s 'The Anxious Generation.' In it, Haidt argues for school cellphone bans, saying fewer devices mean more play, more focus, and more real friendships.

You don’t have to fully agree to see his point. In a LinkedIn post, he shared a sobering projection: the average young person is on track to spend 25 years of their life looking at a smartphone. That’s not just time lost; it’s time traded. Hours that could have gone to sleep, sport, creativity, or connection.

New research is backing up some of those concerns. A global study published in the Journal of Children and Media (Thiagarajan, Newson, & Swaminathan, 2025) found that earlier smartphone ownership (before age 13) was linked to poorer mental health outcomes in young adulthood, including lower self-worth, reduced emotional resilience, and higher rates of severe symptoms such as suicidal thoughts and detachment from reality.

Crucially, much of this link was driven by early social media use, alongside disrupted sleep, cyberbullying, and family strain. In other words, early access doesn’t just expose kids to risk; it can reshape development, displacing real-world learning, social play, and the slow work of building an inner life.

Therapist Takeaways:

I’ve just come back to Earth from the Labour Party Conference. I was hesitant to attend this year; I don’t feel as connected to national politics as I once did. The media wears even the most resilient of us down. What I stay with, though, is that good things are happening — it’s just so hard for the public to see them through the veil of noise: media, social media, fake news, and, more importantly, the fact that for many, nothing is actually changing. Life remains hard. But I needed this conference. I needed to reconnect with other council colleagues nationally, to be reminded of why we do the work — that there is still good here, beneath the infighting, the out-fighting, and the endless clickbait. The noise.

That same noise seeps into the clinic. So many of my clients and patients sit in a kind of unsafe uncertainty — a sense that the world has never been so bad, that safety and predictability have slipped out of reach. They talk about their childhoods as something almost mythical, a time when things made sense, when the adults seemed to have it together. And I recognise that feeling in myself sometimes — that quiet grief for a steadier world. It’s hard to bring certainty into a space when it barely exists outside the room.

Speaking of a space outside the room, I was invited to the SME 4 Labour Vs Meta AI Growth Agenda Event. And honestly, I was livid. What could have been a serious discussion about the intersection of tech, innovation, and social responsibility turned out to be a thinly veiled pitch for Meta’s Llama 4 platform. Complete with bottles of BBQ sauce branded “Open Source” — a supposedly hilarious play on Britishness: because we love sauce so much right? I mean, hell, AI might take your job but at least you’ll be well-marinated, whoop!

So yes, this week has left me thinking about: power and greed, noise and connection, the tug between despair and duty. The system grinds, the headlines spin, and yet there are still people trying to make good things happen quietly, without fanfare. It’s not much, but it’s what keeps the world turning. And sometimes, coming back to Earth is exactly what we need.

In tribute to Jane Goodall’s recent passing, this week’s tool is nature.

Research consistently shows that even small doses of nature, whether strolling through a park, tending a plant, or even looking at images of natural landscapes, can reduce stress, restore focus, and improve mood.

How to bring nature into treatment:

And for us as therapists: don’t just prescribe it, take it. Step outside, breathe some fresh air, and let nature co-regulate you, too.”

As someone who came of age in the ‘90s, I was already a fan of Mayim Bialik. And while the Blossom hats are long gone, I’ve become an avid listener of her podcast. What I love is the way she blends her PhD in neuroscience with an openness to the mystery of the beyond and the science of spirituality.

The show explores mental health, well-being, and profound questions about the human experience. It’s always rooted in science but never confined by it. Both data and meaning get a seat at the table, and that is my kind of dinner party.

Most Saturday mornings, you’ll find me at Lake 86 with my friend Rebecca, somewhere between exhilaration and mild hypothermia. It’s an almost 1000-metre swim — shared with one rather territorial swan.

I started with no gear and no idea, and have since graduated to all the gear and some idea. Barbie pink tow float, thermal wetsuit, neoprene gloves — the lot. It’s less about performance and more a cold, brilliant reminder of being a body in motion, not a mind in overdrive.

Open water has a way of stripping things back; even the swan seems less judgmental than a Teams meeting.

The latest State of Mental Health Report by Mental Health America shows both stability and change in U.S. mental health trends:

Adult stats:

These numbers are consistent with recent years, suggesting the need for mental health treatment remains high but stable.

Youth (Ages 12–17)
Encouragingly, youth mental health showed some improvement from 2023 → 2024:

Still, challenges remain:

Access & Care Gaps
Barriers to treatment remain entrenched:

Source: Mental Health America, Oct. 1, 2025

Most of you are open but cautious — curious about what AI can offer, yet mindful of its limits.

“It's complex, and I believe we have a long road to travel. AI can't replace human therapists, especially for moderate to severe cases where human connection and emotional intelligence are essential. However for those not at clinical risk, with support systems and no immediate need for intervention, AI could offer occasional, low stakes support. That said, it's "people pleasing" tendencies may not always be helpful as it could potentially reinforce unhelpful patterns or offering surface level validation. Its an unchartered territory so it requires a lot of caution but it can be "explored" as an adjunct to enhance mental health care for all those who never reach out for support.”

“It's so complex and nuanced! It's hard to see so much money poured in while many therapists struggle financially. And it's come in so fast and furious, that makes it hard for me to embrace.”

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