In the powerful finale of our Beyond the Stigma series, we confront a reality too urgent to ignore: how social media is reshaping adolescent mental health in Bermuda.

From skyrocketing screen time to sleep disruption, anxiety, and self-esteem struggles, our youth are facing an unprecedented mental health storm — and we’re only beginning to grasp its scale.

This episode unpacks the complex role of social media in young lives: both a vital tool for connection and a source of intense psychological pressure. With clinical insight and on-the-ground experience, our guests shed light on how developing brains are especially vulnerable to online environments engineered for addiction.

But this isn’t just a conversation — it’s a call to action.

We explore practical solutions: digital literacy in schools, banning phone use during class hours, making bedrooms tech-free zones, and equipping parents and educators with tools to set healthy boundaries. We also tackle the deeper challenge — teaching youth conflict resolution, emotional regulation, and critical thinking in a fast-paced digital world.

Social media isn’t going away. But we must evolve how we talk about it, teach it, and regulate its use — before more young lives are shaped by its darker edges.

Join the movement to build a mentally healthier Bermuda. Share this episode, start the conversation, and help shape a future where young people can thrive — online and off.

Trigger warning!

If this is an emergency or if you are concerned about yourown safety or that of a loved one, please call the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute Emergency hotline: 239 1111. They are open 24/7. Alternatively please call the police on 911 or go to the Emergency Room at KEMH.