Teenagers have always had it hard. Adolescence is a period of insecurity, self-doubt, risk taking and finding out who they are and whose company they enjoy. It was already this hard before social media came about! Now we have to consider that the teens in our community are going through this rough period of adolescence, while feeling the pressure to ensure that the online world knows their lives are amazing. Even when they’re not.
What the Data Says About Teen Depression
In recent data published by the Millennium Cohort Study it was shown that our female teen’s lives are being put in danger more and more for every hour spent on social media. It was shown that 40% of female teens that spend 5 hours or more on social media each day showed symptoms of teen depression. Five hours a day on social media may seem a bit unfathomable however it can definitely add up to be a realistic amount of time for any teen. This is an amount of time that can build an addiction fast, and easily send someone spiralling. It has been warned that youth as young as nine are becoming addicted to ‘likes’ as a form of social validation that makes them happy, and many are increasingly anxious about their online image and ‘keeping up appearances’. Social media platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat can make youth feel inferior to the people they follow and the content they see. These feelings of inferiority can lead to even worse feelings and affected youth may start to get feelings of teen depression.
Who Is At Fault For The High Numbers of Teen Depression?
The fact is that we cannot blame the social media giants such as Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat alone for the mental health problems or teen depression social media contributes to. There is definitely a wider range of variables that contribute to the negative side effects of social media. I’m Enough is an online and offline resource that aims to help tackle the range of variables that does in fact contribute to teen depression, while educating youth about the realities of the online world. One of the main realities being IT IS NOT REAL! The things that youth see online should not affect them so much because they never know what is actually happening in someone’s life or head at the time of filming an Instagram story or making a social media post. It’s not going to work to simply take away the phone or social media account of a young person. We have to think big picture, into the future, and educate them on the things that will help them to not feel bad about seeing a nice picture a friend posted and instead give them the tools to see a picture, acknowledge it, be happy for their friend, and move on.
Where to Start If You Are Concerned About Someone Suffering From Teen Depression?
If you need immediate help, go here to access our list of contacts that can help you or the person you care about. If you are looking to educate yourself more on combating the effects of social media on youth, check out our online database of videos to help you. Remember, you are enough. You are so enough it is unbelievable how enough you are.
Emergency and help lines
Everyone knows someone in need, whether it's a family member, a school or work friend, an associate or someone that you meet as you are going about daily life. Perhaps you do not know where to find help. MyRivr uses your location details to be able to provide you with the exact service providers close to you should you need support or need a nearby agency.
About MyRivr
As an ex-cop and gang member, Akerei (Rei) Maresala-Thomson has spent time witnessing the struggles and challenges of the New Zealand community
After 12 years serving with the NZ Police, Rei resigned from his role as Senior Sergeant in Charge of the Pacific, Ethnic and Asian portfolio for Counties Manukau in March, 2017.
He has made it his mission to continue confronting issues, and trying to improve Pacific wellbeing in NZ – but this time he is using technology.
Rei is now the Technical Advisor for free app MYRIVR, a self-funded and volunteer managed concept from the community which was developed and released in 2015 by Corefusion Limited as MASA (Multi-Agency Services Application) to assist in a successful trial with Counties Manukau Police.
MYRIVR is now NZ’s largest in-app directory of community services, enabling visibility and instant access to more than 20,000 helpers and over 7,000 health and social services around the country.
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
Kidsline is New Zealand's original telephone counselling service for all kids up to 14 years of age. Kidsline operates from 4pm to 6pm Monday through to Friday. When kids ring they will speak to a Kidsline buddy – a specially trained teenage telephone counsellor.
Lifeline's telephone counselling service provides 24 hour a day, 7 day a week counselling and support. Calls are confidential and free and you will speak to a trained Lifeline counsellor.
Phone: 522 2999 (within Auckland)
Phone: 0800 543 354 (outside Auckland)
Information for parents on creating a safe online learning and social environment for your children at home.
Information and advice about cyberbullying for young people, parents and teachers.
Kia Kaha is a school-based programme that aims to help schools create environments where all members of the community feel safe, respected and valued, and where bullying cannot flourish.
Depression Helpline – 0800 111 757 or free text 4202 (to talk to a trained counsellor about how you are feeling or to ask any questions).
This includes includes The Journal online help service.
An online e-therapy tool provided by the University of Auckland that helps young people learn skills to deal with feeling down, depressed or stressed.
Provides confidential telephone support.
Helplines for children and young people
What's Up – 0800 942 8787 (for 5–18 year olds).
Phone counselling is available Monday to Friday, midday–11pm and weekends, 3pm–11pm.
Online chat is available 7pm–10pm daily.
Depression Helpline (8am to midnight) Phone: 0800 111 757
Samaritans Phone: 0800 726 666
Suicide Crisis Helpline Phone: 0508 828 865
0508MUSICHELP – The Wellbeing Service is a 24/7 online, on the phone and in-person counselling service fully funded by the NZ Music Foundation and provided free of charge to those in the Kiwi music community who can't access the help they need due to hardship and other circumstances. Call 0508 MUSICHELP.
Vagus Line – 0800 56 76 666 (Mon, Wed, Fri 12 noon – 2pm).
Promote family harmony among Chinese, enhance parenting skills, decrease conflict among family members (couple, parent-child, in-laws) and stop family violence
Women's Refuge Crisisline – 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE) (for women living with violence, or in fear, in their relationship or family)
Shakti Crisis Line – 0800 742 584 (for migrant or refugee women living with family violence)
Free peer support services for people experiencing mental illness or those supporting them
Canterbury and West Coast – 03 379 8415 / 0800 899 276 (1pm to midnight, seven nights)
Free peer support services for people experiencing mental illness or those supporting them
Wellington 0800 200 207 (7pm–1am, Tuesday to Sunday)
Free peer support services for people experiencing mental illness or those supporting them
Auckland Central 0508 927 654 or 0508 WARMLINE (8pm to midnight, seven nights)
Depression and anxiety affects us all differently.
Free 24/7 Helpline: 0800 111 757 Text 4202
Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat
Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
What's Up – 0800 942 8787 (for 5–18 year olds).
Phone counselling is available Monday to Friday, midday–11pm and weekends, 3pm–11pm. Online chat is available 7pm–10pm daily.
Kidsline – 0800 54 37 54 (0800 kidsline) for young people up to 18 years of age. Open 24/7.
thelowdown.co.nz – Phone: 0800 111 757 or email team@thelowdown.co.nz or free text 5626
Supporting Families in Mental Illness - 0800 732 825.
We all face challenges to our mental health at various times in our lives. The way we’re feeling can change how we think and how we deal with tough times.
There’s a range of resources and services available to help including phone and online services and information, as well as face-to-face support.
Most services are free and provide information and confidential advice from trained professionals. There's also information for family, whānau, or friends if they need advice and support.
If you’re told that there is a waiting time for a service, please still reach out and make contact. Other supports can be put in place – ask what you can try in the meantime.
Helplines for children and young people
Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to talk to a trained counsellor.
To talk to a trained counsellor 24/7 call the Depression helpline – 0800 111 757.
To get help from a registered nurse 24/7 call Healthline – 0800 611 116.
Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat.
What's Up – 0800 942 8787, (for 5–18-year-olds). Phone counselling is available Monday to Friday, 1 pm–10 pm and on weekends, 3 pm–10 pm. Online chat is available from 7 pm–10 pm daily.