Ask any parent or teacher what they feel are the most significant influences on the emotional state of their children and students and you’ll probably get various answers. However, most polls and surveys measuring happiness and depression cite social media use as a leading cause of depression, loneliness and isolation.

To address this concern, the Coachella Valley High School Health Academy (CVHS-HA) students teamed up with Eisenhower Health Family Medicine Residency in February to produce the Social Media Mental Health Town Hall.

Now in its second year, the event attracted over 250 students and community members. Featuring physicians in emergency medicine, psychologists, a psychiatrist, and other health care and behavioral health professionals, topics discussed reminded students that social media is a major contributor to signs of depression in young adults.

The event began with a poster exhibition in which students worked with resident physicians at Eisenhower Health to research causes for mental health issues related to social media. Some significant takeaways included:

A 2019 study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that teens who spent more than three hours a day on social media were at a significantly higher risk of developing mental health issues, including depression and anxiety.
A 2023 report by the American Psychological Association found that 32% of teen girls said that Instagram made them feel worse about their bodies, especially when comparing themselves to others.
A UK study from the Royal Society for Public Health found that social media use is linked to disrupted sleep, which can lead to increased feelings of anxiety and depression. Nighttime use was especially associated with poor sleep and emotional distress.

The presenting physicians, psychologists and psychiatrist each highlighted and echoed the research in actual cases they have experienced. The town hall ended with a panel discussion.

A compelling element of conversation was the extensive research on how the pleasure neurotransmitter dopamine affects the brains of young people. They experience a pleasure rush when the feedback is positive and depression when feedback is negative. Research shows that the more time young people spend on social media, the less confident they feel about themselves.

From the town hall event, the CVHS HOSA-Future Health Professionals team won Bronze in state competition, advancing to the HOSA national conference in Nashville, Tennessee in June.

The Mental Health Town Hall is an annual event with Eisenhower Health that allows students, medical professionals and the community to be educated in topics related to health care, behavioral and public health concerns, providing work-based learning for high school students.

Simon Moore is the CVHS health academy coordinator and can be reached at simon.moore@cvusd.us. For more information on One Future Coachella Valley, visit www.onefuturecv.org.