Young adults needed to take part in digital technology study

Digital technology can present both opportunities and harms to young people and their mental health. A new research project is asking for young adults to take part in a UK-wide online survey to identify the importance of adolescents' digital technology use to consultations about mental health. The study, led by the University of Bristol and supported by the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute , will work with key stakeholders, including health and social care practitioners and young people themselves, to explore questions around how use of digital technology could benefit young people's mental health consultations and improve the delivery of care and manage risk. Technology can be used to deliver therapeutic interventions or to interface with services to provide additional means of building relationships with and supporting service users. Equally, heavy technology use amongst young people has been linked to poor mental health outcomes and may pose specific risks for those already experiencing difficulties such as self-harm, suicidal ideation or eating disorders. There has been some suggestion that such risks could be considered during mental health consultations. Dr Lucy Biddle , Senior Lecturer in Medical Sociology in the Bristol Medical School: Population Health Sciences , who is leading the project, said: "We know digital technology, like social media and apps can be good and bad for mental health.