We are constantly overwhelmed with content every time we open our mobile phones — with the typical user spending as much as 17 hours per week scrolling social media. Too much exposure to a digital world is compromising our mental health. For World Mental Health Day on October 10, 2024, SIM-only mobile provider spusu, explores how mobile technology can improve our mental health, rather than hinder it.
Countless studies have shown a link between mobile phone use and poor mental health in teenagers and adolescents. In May 2024, research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London, in partnership with YoungMinds, found high levels of problematic mobile phone use contributed to disturbed sleep and self-harm among young people with mental health conditions.
The digital world doesn’t need to be a negative space — but what can users to do promote more mindful mobile practice?
Mindfulness and meditation
When mood is low, keeping positive can be difficult. But turning to apps that facilitate mindfulness and meditation can make all the difference. There are apps available designed to improve mental health based on reducing stress, improving sleep and living mindfully. While other apps enable users to track their personal journey, track progress and enjoy rewards for their efforts. Additionally, the app allows users to connect with friends, providing motivation and encouragement along the way.
Stop scrolling to start sleeping
We all know the benefits that quality sleep has on better mental health. With that said, a YouGov Sleep Study found that nine out of ten Brits look at their phone or tablet within an hour before going to bed. This can make it difficult to fall asleep, often causing people to pick their phone, only leading to further sleep disruption.
For the best night’s sleep, avoiding screen related activities at least one hour before bed is advised to give your body and brain the best chance of winding down. Instead of picking up your phone, pick up a book or occupy your mind with a Sudoku or Crossword.
If that doesn’t work, there are apps that can help you track your sleeping pattern, and even assist you in falling into a deep slumber. Choose ones that offer soothing sounds such as white noise or soft rain that can give your mind something to focus on and help you fall asleep faster.
Therapy at your fingertips
The waiting list for face-to-face therapy sessions has been scrutinised over the years as it can take months before people are able to access support. But the development of therapy-based apps can make speaking to a therapist much faster.
As sessions are done via video call, it also means you can get support from the comfort of your home. Plus, you can choose what type of therapist you’d prefer to speak to and tailor your sessions to get the most out of them.
If seeking therapy isn’t an option, the NHS approves an app that uses interactive tools and techniques, backed by cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). It’s a personalised self-help experience specific to the user’s targets, whether that’s managing anxiety, learning to tackle depression or reducing stress.
Take a break
It’s not just about the apps we use, but the frequency at which we use them. Research shows that too much screen time is bad for mental health. Research has shown that children who used screens for seven hours a day were twice as likely to develop anxiety or depression than children who used screens for an hour or less a day.
If you find yourself scrolling a bit too much, enabling features such as app-locking and time limit reminders can help. These features can completely restrict access to a specific app or send an alert when your screen time has exceeded more than an hour of your day, for example.
Lastly, it’s important to be open minded to the fact we can live without social media. The practice of a ‘digital detox’ encourages regular intervals of time away from social media to be present in real-world activities and engage in human interaction, without the pressure of social media. Specifically, this could include deleting social media apps, or deactivating your profiles on them, and even scheduling times when you allow yourself to use the applications.
Rather than using our mobile technology to hinder our health, instead using it responsibly to improve sleep, cutting back on screen time and accessing mental health support can transform our relationships with our phones. Although each World Mental Health Day revolves around a particular theme, it’s important to use this day to truly reflect on how we can improve in general, not just for one day.
To shop spusu’s SIM-only deals, starting from £9.90, visit www.spusu.co.uk
