(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Social media was the focus of a youth mental health town hall held by Children’s Hospital Colorado Monday evening, Oct. 6.
According to Children’s Hospital, from June to July 2025, there was a 26% increase in kids coming to its emergency departments for mental health concerns, compared to the same time last year. Because of the summer’s increase, Children’s Hospital is on high alert to families’ needs for the fall, as kids approach the difficult mid-terms/holiday season that often aligns with a spike in mental health concerns.
To help answer frequent questions and concerns, Children’s Hospital held a virtual community discussion on Monday, featuring experts from Children’s Hospital Colorado who spoke on social media use and provided guidance for families.
Tips from youth mental health experts:
- Setting limits early and trying to balance the time your child interacts with the real and digital world
- Fill your kids’ days with a variety of activities, like playing outdoors, creative projects, social time, homework, and even quiet moments
- Monitor your child’s digital footprint, similar to watching what they eat–it’s important they understand the difference between the “junk food” of digital content, and healthier options
“If they’re consuming digital junk food, like overstimulating, mindless or even harmful content, their output really reflects that,” said Marisa Taylor, Child and Family Therapist at the Pediatric Mental Health Institute. “It could look like a cigarette, or an emotional crash, fatigue, crankiness and so much more. So just like with food, what they’re taking in digitally affects how they feel, behave and grow.”
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