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How we parents manage technology in our homes, and what we put in the hands of our kids, has turned into one of the most hotly debated topics amongst parents and experts.

In this episode, I talk to Dr. Lucy Foulkes, Oxford academic psychologist and author, about social media’s role in adolescent mental health, challenging the narrative popularized by Jonathan Haidt and exploring why phones and social platforms aren’t the universal villains they’re often made out to be.

Dr Foulkes has a fascinating take on mental health and whether our well-intentioned conversations around the subject, especially in schools and on social media, might have gone too far; creating confusion or even anxiety for parents and young people.

If you want a nuanced, evidence-based discussion that will help you support your teen with more confidence and less fear you've found it.

Dr. Lucy Foulkes: Books

What Mental Illness Really Is (…and what it isn’t)
Coming Of Age: How Adolescence Shapes Us,

Website: https://www.lucyfoulkes.com/

Book recommended: The End of Trauma by George Bonanno

It’s important not to pathologize normal adolescent struggles. Not all teenagers have mental health problems. Most are resilient and functioning well.
All distress should be taken seriously, not just clinical disorders.
Increased mental health awareness only helps if there is proper back-up and support for those who really need it.
Mental health terms are often misunderstood. Words like “OCD” are often used casually, diluting their meaning and making it harder for those with real disorders to be understood and supported.
The narrative that phones and social media are causing a mental health crisis is oversimplified and often exaggerated (as in Jonathan Haidt’s work).
Parental engagement and open conversations matter. The best approach is to guide teens in managing technology, set consistent family rules, and model healthy behavior, rather than banning devices or demonizing their use.
Both online and offline experiences can be positive or negative; it’s about finding a healthy mix and not assuming one is always better than the other.

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I don't have medical training so please seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping.

My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com
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You can reach Susie at www.amindful-life.co.uk

Mental Health, and Teen Phone Use with Oxford Psychologist Lucy Foulkes. 156

Parenting Teenagers Untangled - Understand and Talk to Your Teenager