Digital Self-Harm: What Is It and How Can We Stop It?

Digital Self-Harm: What Is It and How Can We Stop It?

Parents are familiar with cyberbullying. When their child’s upset about what one of their friends posted about them on Twitter, the parent knows to tell their child that there’s nothing wrong with them. Instead, these bullies use them as a target for their own...
Utah’s Measures to Prevent Teen Suicide

Utah’s Measures to Prevent Teen Suicide

Utah Governor Gary Herbert recently created a 14 person task force in response to the rise of suicides in Utah during 2017. The panel is working to identify existing programs. From there, they plan to use those programs to build a bank of resources to help those...
Grace’s Law: How West Virginia Plans to Combat Cyberbullying

Grace’s Law: How West Virginia Plans to Combat Cyberbullying

On February 8th, the West Virginia state legislature overwhelmingly passed an anti-cyberbullying bill called Grace’s Law. Here’s what you need to know. Grace’s Story A 15 year-old girl, Grace McComas, committed suicide after she endured a long...
Can New Media Cause Depression?

Can New Media Cause Depression?

Between 2010 and 2015, teen depression and suicide rates climbed 31%. Recent research points in one direction: avid Internet use.   New Media Clinical Psychological Science recently published a paper linking teen mental illness and new media, a term including...
The Internet and Anxiety: How It Hurts and Helps

The Internet and Anxiety: How It Hurts and Helps

The internet undeniably plays a part in many different types of anxiety. However, not all of these interactions between anxiety and the internet are negative. First, the internet presents a safe place for those with social anxiety. The fear of physical, social...