Because of our changing bodies, this is a very confusing time for us teenagers. In a recent study done by the University of South Australia, “almost one in seven children and adolescents (aged 4-17) will experience a mental disorder.” According to the World Health Association, “While half of all mental health conditions start by age 14, most cases go undetected and untreated.” Their research also shows that teenagers require 8-9 hours of sleep to handle stressors during the day. On that note, if their sleep time falls below 6 hours, they’re more likely to participate in more risky activities such as smoking, drugs, and perilous driving.

Dr Stephanie Centofanti, the co-researcher at the University of South Australia, stated,” While many factors contribute to later bedtimes for teenagers, technology is one of the greatest offenders. Not only can technology make us fell anxious and awake, but the blue light emitted from technology inhibits the production of the sleep hormone melatonin to delay the natural onset of sleep.” This causes problems because we already have the desire to stay up late into the night and sleep in into the day. UniSA sleep experts Dr. Alex Agostini and Dr. Centofanti have confirmed that “sleep is intrinsically linked to mental health, but is commonly overlooked by health practitioners as a contributing factor.”

If parents and medical practitioners know about this study, they will be better able to help out their children and patients (respectively) to not develop mental disorders.

Information credited to  sciencedaily.com