Health correspondent Denis Campbell on the ongoing
increase (25-30% a year) of children and young people seeking treatment for
mental health. The emerging digital culture has been cited as a potential cause
of this worrying trend. In particular:-
- cyberbullying
- websites advocating anorexia and self-harm
- violent video games
- the sharing of indecent images
are all posing a threat to the mental wellbeing of under
18's. Whilst the Commons Health Select Committee could not find evidence that
digital media was a principal cause of the increase, it is calling for a
government inquiry into its effects.
Chair of the committee, Sarah Wollaston, commented:
"In the past if you were bullied it might just be in
the classroom. Now it follows [you] way beyond the walk home from school.
Voluntary bodies have not suggested stopping young people using the internet.
But for some young people it's clearly a new source of stress."
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