How smartphones helped create an anxious generation

Amid a surge in mental health issues among young people, Insight explores what can be done to stem the tide, and brings you stories of hope.

- Sandra Davie

In August, a Singapore study released some worrying findings: nearly half of Singaporean youth aged between 15 and 21 have "problematic smartphone use," which meant that they spent excessive time on their devices and were dependent on them.

What was even more of a concern was that those affected were at least three times more likely to have symptoms of moderate or severe depression, anxiety, and insomnia.

Researchers from the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) who conducted the study reported that users felt impatient or fretful without their devices and constantly thought about them. They also suffered problems from spending too much time on their devices, including physical discomfort—pain in the wrists or back of the neck. There were also many who missed work or were unable to concentrate during lessons due to smartphone use.