Dr. Charles Raison Links Teen Phone Use to Mental Health Risks

Dr. Charles Raison, psychiatrist and director of the Vail Health Behavioral Health Innovation Center (BHIC), connects phone addiction to the increasing rates of depression and suicide among teens. “If you look at the rising suicide rate, it’s all in younger people — something is going wrong there,” Raison explained. “These phones are really addictive. They’re designed to be addictive.”

Excessive scrolling and phone use can shorten attention spans, increase social comparison, and limit engagement in real-life activities, significantly impacting adolescents. “It’s not just the time you’re spending on your phone; it’s the time that you’re not doing other things,” Raison said. “(If) you’re a young person, you’re not playing sports; you’re not out in the sunshine; you’re not actually engaging with real human beings.”

While BHIC’s current studies for treating depression, OPTIMIZE (focused on psychedelics) and CHILL’D (focused on heat and cold therapy), are not suitable for adolescents, Raison is exploring whether removing phones from teenagers can improve their mental health. This research will specifically focus on darkness immersion therapy, which involves short periods of distraction-free time. “Time-limited exposure to darkness might hold promise for both helping kids get a deeper understanding of themselves and also helping them sense what it’s like not to be on the phone for a while,” Raison said.

Raison also warned about the broader risks of technology, including artificial intelligence, which can possibly take over a human’s need for social connection. He advocates for practical steps like unplugging before bed and taking tech-free vacations to support better mental health.

Read the full article on VailDaily.com >