Can the internet help my students who are looking for support on health and emotional issues?
Adolescence brings both opportunities and challenges for young people. For many teenagers, it's a time to develop their identity, experiment with relationships, explore their sexuality, question adult norms, and become more aware of their body image.
As a teacher, it's useful to understand the kind of issues that young people search for and discuss online, which include:
- Body image
- Eating disorders
- Isolation and loneliness
- Bullying
- Depression
- Drug and alcohol misuse
- Self-harm and suicide
There's no doubt that the internet and other technologies offer positive outlets for young people to get information, express themselves, share their feelings with others who might be going through similar experiences, and find support at this crucial time.
In fact, in a 2009 survey, 32 per cent of 16-24 year olds agreed that they can access all the information they need online and don't need to speak to a real person about their problems (Source: YouthNet, 2009).
But it's important to recognise that your students might face some online risks when it comes to issues of emotional and physical health.
For example, they might access websites that promote eating disorders, self-harm, suicide or other dangerous behaviours; they might be bullied online; or they might be vulnerable because they turn to their online world when they feel lonely or depressed.
Here, we'll give you some advice about where you can direct them to reliable sources of information and support.