Research highlights a complex relationship between digital media use and youth mental health. While digital tools can offer peer support, social connection, creativity, and access to resources, they also expose youth to risks such as cyberbullying, disinformation, and compulsive use. Most youth receive little education on healthy digital practices. Without intervention from healthcare, education, and families, this knowledge gap contributes to increased depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and poor academic preformance. Providers and caregivers often feel unprepared to address these challenges in ways that are age-appropriate, gender-sensitive, and culturally responsive. Emerging technologies such as AI offer potential to expand access and efficiency in mental health care, but also raise concerns related to privacy, algorithmic bias, misinformation, and the erosion of human connection. There is a clear need to equip professionals and caregivers to navigate this evolving landscape thoughtfully. The Youth Mental Health in the Digital Age ECHO will translate research into actionable guidance. Participants will learn to engage youth in conversations about media use, detect signs of digital stress, and responsibly use AI-powered tools to improve care.

“Teens, Screens and Mental Health.” World Health Organization, 2024, www.who.int/europe/news/item/25-09-2024-teens–screens-and-mental-health. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

Singh, Om P.1,2. Artificial intelligence in the era of ChatGPT – Opportunities and challenges in mental health care. Indian Journal of Psychiatry 65(3):p 297-298, March 2023. | DOI: 10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_112_23

Lee, Ellen E., et al. “Artificial Intelligence for Mental Health Care: Clinical Applications, Barriers, Facilitators, and Artificial Wisdom.” Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, vol. 6, no. 9, Sept. 2021, pp. 856–864, doi:10.1016/j.bpsc.2021.02.001.