Digital Quicksand: How Screen Addiction Fuels Mental Health Crisis

The Party Wreckers

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What happens when the soothing glow of screens becomes a dangerous escape hatch for our children's emotions? In this revealing episode, addiction interventionist Matt Brown tackles the increasingly alarming phenomenon of screen addiction sweeping through younger generations.
Drawing from groundbreaking research published in the Journal of American Medicine, Matt explores how digital dependency correlates with rising rates of depression, anxiety, and even suicidal ideation among adolescents. The findings are sobering: nearly 18% of youth in the study reported suicidal thoughts, with addiction to screens—not merely screen time—being the critical factor. Most troublingly, many children as young as ten report using devices "to forget about problems," mirroring the exact psychological patterns seen in substance addiction.
This conversation strikes particularly close to home as Matt candidly admits his own struggles with healthy technology boundaries. "I find myself using technology in unhealthy ways too," he confesses, highlighting the unique challenge parents face: how can we guide our children when we're fighting the same battle? Rather than offering simplistic solutions, Matt invites listeners into a thoughtful reflection on modeling healthier relationships with technology and creating family environments where digital devices enhance rather than replace human connection.
Whether you're a parent worried about your child's screen habits, an educator witnessing changing classroom dynamics, or someone questioning your own relationship with technology, this episode offers valuable perspective on one of modern life's most pervasive addictions. Subscribe to Party Wreckers, share your own strategies for healthy tech boundaries, and join the conversation about raising resilient kids in a digitally saturated world.

Support the show

Join us Every Sunday at 8:00 PM PST and Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Night at 8:00 PM EST/5:00PST for a FREE family support group. Register at the following link to get the zoom information sent to you: Family Support Meeting
About our sponsor(s):
Intervention on Call is on online platform that allows families and support systems to get immediate coaching and direction from a professional interventionist. While a professional intervention can be a powerful experience for change, not every family needs a professionally led intervention. For families who either don't need or can't afford a professional intervention, we can help. Hour sessions are $150.
Therapy is a very important way to take care of your mental health. This can happen from the comfort of your own home or office. If you need therapy and want to get a discount on your first month of services please try Better Help.
If you want to know more about the host's private practice please visit:
Matt Brown: Freedom Interventions
Follow the host on TikTok
Matt: @mattbrowninterventionist
If you have a question that we can answer on the show, please email us at [email protected]

Chapters

1. Introduction to Party Wreckers Podcast (00:00:00)

2. Intervention on Call Free Family Support (00:01:10)

3. Screen Addiction: The Growing Problem (00:02:50)

4. Research on Screen Addiction and Suicide (00:05:40)

5. Escaping Problems Through Screens (00:09:30)

6. Modeling Healthy Technology Use (00:14:20)

7. Call for Feedback and Strategies (00:17:30)