Tagged With "digital wellness"
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Internet and gaming addiction – New research
The link below provides a brief summary and overview of some of the latest research on internet gaming disorder and other internet-related addiction problems as well as links to the publications. It poses the question: " Should we be worried about the fact that most of us are constantly connected? " How we work, meet friends, shop, buy groceries, pay bills and even how we seek medical help can be done from the comfort of our couch. What do you think, are you worried about this? Internet and...
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How "Fortnite" is changing the gaming market
The game Fortnite is a free game that can be played on mobile devices. Because of these savvy choices, more and more women are playing this game, helping to propel is to possibly generate 3.5 billion dollars in revenue. They also offer more representation for women, which is something different as well. How 'Fortnite' unlocked the most active gamers on mobile It's interesting how they have begun to cater to women, and that choice is really paying off for them.
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Gambling, Gaming & Tech Use Upcoming Webinar!
Problem Technology Use and Mental Health Gambling, Gaming & Technology Use Webinar Series Wednesday, July 11, 2018 | 12:00 - 1:00 pm (EST) Lisa Pont, MSW, RSW This webinar will discuss the complex relationship between problem technology use and mental health issues, as well as the available treatment options and resources for clients. After this webinar, participants will be able to: Define problem technology use Explain the link between problem technology use and mental health issues...
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CBC News Article: Tech companies encourage us to be smart about phones
This newly released CBC News article discusses new Smartphone management tools that enable users to get daily and weekly activity reports about the total time they spend in each app, their usage and notifications as well as the ability for parents to put controls on usage. Featured in the article, @Registered Member points out that this may be one avenue to help reduce or minimize Smartphone use but that there are also other options such as turning off notifications and scheduling...
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ADHD study links teens' symptoms with digital media use
CNN just posted on a study linking ADHD with digital media use - a risk factor we identify in our own evidence-based resources . After analyzing the self-reported symptoms and digital media survey responses, the researchers found that each additional high-frequency engagement in a digital media activity was associated with higher odds of having ADHD symptoms at each follow-up point. However, the study, which was published in the medical journal JAMA , sheds light on how more research is...
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Can researchers tell how general populations feel by monitoring twitter?
A Wired.com article explored some research that British researchers did over a 4 year period on 800 million tweets to analyze mood/content of tweet and time of tweet. As the title states, they found patterns of being analytical in the morning and angsty at night. Could this have clinical implications? Will a harm reduction approach to social media be to go on in the morning but not later as the day progresses? If clients are struggling with their mood and tend to feel worse after viewing...
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is the news the new FOMO?
https://www.wired.com/2017/08/fomo/ This article from WIRED magazine asks us to think about how FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) of breaking news impacts on our lives. With recent tragic events, weather related disasters and "notable people" posting on social media, do you find yourself revisiting your social media and news platforms again and again for newer and more information? We often talk with our clients about taking breaks from technology, and from social media especially for those who are...
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Interview for CBC Kids
I did an interview with the CBC for a new kids show they will be airing the beginning of September. It will be an online news show featuring different stories reported by kids. They interviewed me last Friday for a story they were doing on Fortnite. The show will feature a boy who did a 22 day cleanse from Fortnite as well as an interview with me about the definition of addiction and the signs of problem gaming. It was interesting to tailor the messages directly to kids between the ages of...
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Cell Phones in Classrooms
Well, it's back to school time so it got me thinking about the ongoing challenge educators have with how to deal with cell phone use in classrooms. Maclean's magazine featured an article, "Should schools welcome cell phones in class?" by Michelle McQuigge. She wrote that research indicates that incorporating cell phones into class with guidelines and teaching students when and how to use the technology appropriately is more effective than banning the cell phones from class altogether. What...
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YouTube - a step in the right direction?
This week, YouTube announced new features that can help users track their usage to help manage their "digital well-being." Features: track time spent watching videos set auto-reminders to take a break set notifications to only once a week Is this a step in the right direction for YouTube? https://youtube.googleblog.com/2018/08/tools-to-take-charge-of-your-digital.html
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Webinar: Mental Health and Well-Being Among Ontario Students
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS) recently released it's 2017 survey results. The report describes physical health indicators, mental health indicators, bullying, gambling and related problems, video gaming and related problems, and other risk behaviours among Ontario students in 2017 and changes since 1991, where available. A few survey highlights on gambling, gaming and technology use: About 7% of secondary school students...
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RCMP Youth Trends Report Fall 2018
This was forwarded to me, via email, and i am passing it along. There is a lot of great information to help us understand our youth and technology better.
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Resource for parents
Right-by-You-A-Guide-for-Parents-Caregivers This is a resource that I found on the website jack.org. It's a site that promotes mental health awareness in youth: Jack.org is Canada's only charity training and empowering young leaders to revolutionize mental health in every province and territory. We do this through three globally-recognized programs: talks chapters and summits They have resources for teachers and parents, as well as youth. It was started by some parents after their son died...
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Fortnite, Minecraft chat part of an online sting
Fortnite, Minecraft used as a means to lure youth New Jersey police conducted a sting of adults talking to youth gamers and arrested 24 men. The men were arreseted after contacting what they thought were 14 and 15 year old youths, chatting with them and then arranging to meet them in real life for sex. To me, this really speaks to the need for education and awareness on the part of both the youth gaming, as well as the parents. Some much younger kids than 14 also play these games, especially...
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An interesting read
Wait until 8th This blog post is from an 8th grade teacher comparing an 8th graders experience in 2008 vs 2018 in an embarrassing situation. This American organization waituntil8th.org is an organization that is working to get parents and children to wait until children are in 8th grade (or grade 8 as we say in Canada) before they get their first smartphone. And while I'm not advocating for the pledge on their website, their blog posts do have interesting and thought provoking entries and...
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Data show no evidence that teens' social media use predicts depression over time
Longitudinal data from adolescents and young adults show no evidence that social media use predicts later depressive symptoms. However, the findings do show that relatively higher depressive symptoms predicted later social media use among adolescent girls. This research stands in contrast with recent claims that adolescents' use of social media may lead to depression, claims based primarily on studies that examined associations between average social media use and average well-being measured...
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Gambling, Gaming and Technology Use Community of Interest Survey
We invite you to complete a short survey about our Gambling, Gaming & Technology Use Community of Interest, which you can access here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GGTU-CoI . The purpose of this survey is to understand the extent to which our community of interest has increased your knowledge about gambling, gaming and technology use as well as your connections with other stakeholders. It will also help to inform the development of future online communities through EENet Connect. This...
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Sleep problems in teenagers reversed in just one week by limiting screen use
Sleep in teenagers can be improved by just one week of limiting their evening exposure to light-emitting screens on phones, tablets and computers. The study indicates that by simply limiting their exposure to blue-light emitting devices in the evening, adolescents can improve their sleep quality and reduce symptoms of fatigue, lack of concentration and bad mood, after just one week. Those who had more than 4 hours per day of screen time had on average 30 minutes later sleep onset and wake up...
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Gambling and Gaming Harms: Ontario Professional Development Forum
On May 9 th and 10 th , the Gambling, Gaming & Technology Use team under the Provincial System Support Program at CAMH and Gambling Research Exchange Ontario co-hosted the Gambling and Gaming Harms: Ontario Professional Development Forum. The forum brought together over 100 clinicians and community partners, providing an opportunity to interact and learn from each other’s experiences, broadening their outlook beyond their own practice. Dr. Carlo C. DiClemente, one of the founders of the...
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Re: ADHD study links teens' symptoms with digital media use
Hi Elaine; I have a 21 year old son with ADHD since he was young, and am interested in how you did full detox on gaming, if you would be able to share this ? I am fully prepared to believe the gaming may have made the ADHD worse, so do you think the lack of symptoms could be directly related now ? My son is thinking he does not have a problem, how did you diagnose and treat your son ? Thank you.
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Re: ADHD study links teens' symptoms with digital media use
I'm happy to share my experience, Suzie. It's a long story (I actually wrote a book about it). I did see my son exhibit ADHD symptoms during his worst crisis period with video gaming addiction and we can talk about that. How about we speak over the phone rather than on this forum. Please email me ar ElaineUskoski@gmail.com and we'll set up a time to talk that works for both of us.
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Re: ADHD study links teens' symptoms with digital media use
oh - i remember seeing this somewhere - the book that is, on another website, i think it was. I will have a look. Thanks,
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Re: Bell Let's Talk - part of the problem?
I completely agree Aaron! Bell is not to blame for mental health prevalence, stigma, and or self-esteem issues. It is merely a medium, as you put, a vessel by which content is delivered. People like to make the argument that perhaps Bell is enabling mental health issues but perhaps it is also enabling change - which is exactly the purpose of the BellLetsTalk campaign. For a campaign that brought in $7.2M in grants (800k being put towards Indigenous communities), not to mention the level of...
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Re: Gambling and Gaming Harms: Ontario Professional Development Forum
Thank you for organizing another great forum, Colleen. I appreciated being able to both attend and speak on a guest panel. I thoroughly enjoyed Dr DiClemente's talk and had a take-away or two from each of the breakout sessions I attended. A brilliant idea to end with Diana Tikasz's presentation on Refilling the Well. It serves as a great reminder that self-care is vital. It was great to make new friends and contacts. And the Marriott Hotel did an exceptional job as hosts of the event.
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Re: Gambling and Gaming Harms: Ontario Professional Development Forum
@Alison Benedict and @Elaine Uskoski - I enjoyed both the Current Trends in Youth Gambling, Gaming, Technology Use and Cannabis panel as well as the Working Across Sectors to Improve Access to Gambling Treatment for Diverse Populations breakout session. I honestly learned so much from both of your talks and want to thank you for sharing your personal experience with us. Another part of the forum that I enjoyed was meeting everyone at our booth during the first day. It is always nice to hear...
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Re: Google’s Play Store starts requiring games with loot boxes to disclose their odds
Publishing the odds is very important, however I hope that these odds would be presented in easy to understand terms, instead of just numerically. We have found that just indicating the odds numerically makes it difficult to have a real understanding of what this means (for adults as well as youth). Using descriptors in easy to understand terms that are accessible and not in small print and difficult to locate would be required.
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Re: "Loot Boxes" - gambling or not?
I’d like to share some thoughts on the differences between loot boxes and gambling: You always GAIN something from loot boxes. Whereas in gambling, there is also the possibly that you may LOSE as well. You can’t gain financially from loot boxes as you do in gambling. Putting money into a loot box never gives you money in return like gambling does. Even though these two things don’t match the criteria for gambling that you listed in this tread, they are two significant differences. In this...
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Re: ADHD study links teens' symptoms with digital media use
Thank you for sharing! I am happy to see this research being done. My son, in full blown crisis with video gaming addiction was diagnosed with ADHD. He was 19 years old at the time. He had been tested when he was younger and no signs of ADHD were found. Within six months of full detox of gaming, two and a half years later, the ADHD symptoms were gone, as well as his facial tics. We definitely need to see more studies and results moving forward.
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Re: ADHD study links teens' symptoms with digital media use
Great article, Howie. And thanks for shedding light on your personal experiences, Elaine. It's interesting because most of the theories I've heard concerning the link between ADHD and digital media use focus on how the symptoms of ADHD (e.g., inattentiveness, impulsivity, etc.) put a person at risk for developing problematic technology use as an unhealthy way of coping with/expressing these symptoms. However, in your son's case, it appears that his video gaming preceded his ADHD symptoms.
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Re: Increases in technology use among Ontario students
I read these results this morning too and found them shocking. Especially the one in three students spending 5 hours or more a day on electronic devices, and that's only in their spare time (not including school!). I worry about the long term implications of this for our children's social and emotional well-being as adults.
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Re: Increases in technology use among Ontario students
Thanks for everyone's comments! Rebecca, I also found these results quite alarming. I found it interesting that only 23% of students met the recommended daily physical activity guideline, while 64% of students spend 3+ hours of recreational screen time per day. I wonder about links between screen use and lack of physical activity (as well as other impacts of course). I too worry about the long-term effects of excessive screen use.
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Re: is the news the new FOMO?
I was a bit taken back as well Rebecca, given the amlount of trolling that people do. I have never commented on an online story before, preferring to talk about what I have read in person, with family and friends. i have though, in my life a few people who have engaged in "twitter wars" with others over heated topics. There was most definitely an energy that came from that. Can't say that they were happier though.... Keep us posted about your commenting!
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Re: is the news the new FOMO?
Thanks for sharing this, Beth. This is a really interesting perspective and one that could play a role in harm reduction, as you mentioned. I think more research is needed to understand the interplay between social media and mental health. I came across a news article entitled "Does social media actually decrease anxiety?" that was recently featured in the Globe and Mail and discusses some of the different findings in the research about whether social media decreases or increases anxiety,...
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Re: YouTube - a step in the right direction?
As Cam Adair, from GameQuitters.com says " Although these are steps in the right direction, if YouTube really cared about digital well being, they would have "auto-play" turned OFF by default. The setting currently remains on." I concur.
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Re: Screen time and ADHD
Great point, Lisa. When my sons played video games together and we as a family played, there seemed to be fewer issues with Jake's attention and focus. It definitely created bigger issue for Jake when he left for university and escaped into gaming in an isolated dorm room. I would like to see more research in this area, as well.
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Re: Can anyone suggest an gambling clinical practice guide, that incorporates "cultural competency" on the idea of "lucky?"
Hello Bill, Please find the attached document, "A Guide for Counsellors Working with Problem Gambling Clients from Ethno-cultural Communities." On page 16 there is content related to your question. Best, Lisa
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Re: Teens in Urban Regions Are More Likely To Experience Problem Video Gaming
I like your idea Tiffany of adding safer gaming practices into curriculum with safer gambling information. I also think that there is a need for a paired curriculum for parents/guardians on both of these topics, especially as technology use is so ubiquitious. I wonder how influential overall wellness and mental health education would be at addressing some of those underlying issues and how students would respond if the curriculum not only taught safer gambling and gaming practices, but...
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Re: Gambling, Gaming, and Technology Use Knowledge Exchange
Thank you so much for sharing the article, Elaine. It was very thought provoking. I had some initial responses to his article (in italics). My Responses to “Why Is There a ‘Gaming Disorder’ But NO ‘Smartphone Disorder’ article in The Atlantic by Ian Bogost on June 28, 2018. The ICD has not "decided" that if you play video games a lot, you might suffer from a mental health issue: Gaming disorder.” They have determined based on research and consultations with experts that those that are...
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Re: Research on Parent-Child "Technoference"
This is such an interesting thread. It's also brought to my mind the amount that technology is used in the classroom now. Even my son in JK had specific iPad time and tasks that he had to complete/lerning activities to complete. I would wonder if that will eventually factor in to the research as well.
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Re: Gambling, Gaming, and Technology Use Knowledge Exchange
This is truly insightful, Lisa! Although the backlash exists, it's important in that it forces us to have conversations, debunk myths and stigma, as well as ensure the right evidence is getting out there. What I liked most were the ways in which Bogost negotiated the "pathology" of gaming, to demonstrate how it is received and/or accepted in the medical profession.
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Re: CBC News Article: Tech companies encourage us to be smart about phones
Thanks for sharing, Matt! Just to add to this discussion - an article published yesterday in TechCrunch announces that Facebook and Instragram's new "digital well-being screen-time management dashboards" have been launched in the US. This dashboard shows how many minutes people use each of these apps per day and their average use in a week. It also allows users to mute notifications and set daily usage limits, after which a notification will come up to say they have surpassed the limit. What...
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Re: Interview for CBC Kids
That's fantastic Lisa! I hope the show is received well, and the awareness grows.
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Re: Cell Phones in Classrooms
Thanks for the suggestion of the video Elaine! She had some interesting facts and stats. I found her graphs about prevalence of anxiety and the 50% saturation of smartphone use eye opening. Colleeen's point, of parents wanting to be able to get a hold of their children anytime necessary and of chidlren as young as grade 2 or 3 getting phones is also interesting. I wonder if GenX'ers are passing their anxiety down to their children and that is getting transmitted via the need to be in...