#TeenMentalHealth

A major new study has found that teenagers who report addictive patterns of using social media, mobile phones, or video games are at up to triple the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors compared to their peers, reigniting ongoing debate about the mental health impacts of digital technology. The research, published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), is among the first to track young people over several years, specifically examining the relationship between compulsive screen use and suicidality rather than looking only at overall time spent online (The Guardian, NPR, The New York Times, Neuroscience News).

In the latest findings spotlighted by CNN and corroborated by leading psychological research, the emotion of ‘awe’ could be a potent but under-utilised tool for improving teen mental health. As mental health issues and stress reach concerning levels among Thai adolescents, experts are urging families, schools, and communities to reimagine opportunities for young people to experience wonder—offering not only moments of joy but shielding effects for their psychological resilience.

The backdrop to this call for action is stark: Thailand, like many nations across Asia, faces a youth mental health crisis. Recent studies show a worrying increase in depression, anxiety, and suicide rates among the young (as reported by the Bangkok Post’s coverage of a ThaiHealth study). According to data, youths 15 years and older are suffering from depression at a rate of 2,200 per 100,000, and up to 17% of adolescents aged 13–17 are vulnerable to suicide attempts (Pacific Prime Thailand). Experts agree: new, creative approaches are urgently required.

The challenges of speaking to teenagers about mental health remain complex and deeply personal, yet new research is equipping parents with powerful evidence-based guidance on building these critical bridges. As global rates of adolescent anxiety and depression have surged over recent years, family communication is emerging as a frontline defense in shaping positive mental health outcomes for Thai youth and their families.

For many Thai parents and caregivers, the desire to support their teens is often accompanied by uncertainty and anxiety over choosing the right words or approach. This unease is not unique to Thailand—research worldwide shows that conversations around teen mental health can be among the most intimidating for families to initiate. However, a growing body of science underscores the profound impact such dialogues can have on young people’s well-being. Evidence shows that when communication is strong, adolescents are more likely to feel respected, understood, and able to make healthier choices, while experiencing lower levels of depressive symptoms (Camino a Casa, 2024).

As exam season intensifies across Thailand, mental health experts are sounding the alarm over rising levels of psychological distress among teenagers, with mounting research showing that exam stress can easily spiral into more severe mental health challenges if left unaddressed. Recent expert commentary, together with new policy scrutiny, is shedding light on how parents and educators can identify the turning point where ordinary anxiety becomes a call for urgent intervention, and what steps actually help teens through this pressure-cooker period.

A new survey from the Pew Research Center underscores a generation increasingly ambivalent about social media: while most American teens credit social platforms with boosting connections to friends, nearly half now say these sites have a mostly negative effect on people their age—up markedly from just two years ago. The report, released April 22, 2025, is a comprehensive reflection of shifting attitudes among teens and their parents, highlighting mounting concern over youth mental health amid unprecedented digital exposure. For Thailand—a nation ranking among the world’s leaders in internet and smartphone usage among youth—these findings ring alarm bells about the potential risks and opportunities facing its own adolescents in the digital age. (Pew Research Center: Teens, Social Media and Mental Health)