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Most teens who used AI for mental health support wanted more help

Researchers surveyed 24,132 students in England and found that 2.7% had used general-purpose AI for mental health support during the previous year. Among users who answered the relevant questions, 55.9% rated the support helpful, yet 63.2% wanted additional assistance, with greater unmet needs reported among adolescents experiencing mental health difficulties and social adversity.

28 Oct 2026

Screen time was linked to teen anxiety. Then researchers compared twins

A longitudinal study of 21,797 Swedish twins found that heavy interactive screen use during adolescence was associated with more anxiety and depressive symptoms and a higher likelihood of subsequent clinical mental health outcomes. However, these associations weakened substantially when comparing twins with different screen habits, suggesting that shared genetic and environmental factors contribute to the relationship.

12 Oct 2026

Trusted support improves mental health in LGBQ+ teens

Gay or bisexual teens who have someone to turn to with a serious problem have significantly better mental health outcomes than those who don't, according to a new study from Tulane University researchers.

12 Oct 2026

Cyberbullying acts as an extension of in-person school violence

A new study of 4,200 adolescents revealed that cyberbullying rarely occurs in isolation; it almost always functions as an extension of physical and verbal aggression already present in the school environment.

9 Oct 2026

Eight-weekly HIV injections prove more effective than daily tablets for young people

Young people living with HIV manage their condition better when their antiretroviral therapy is given by injections every eight weeks, rather than in the form of daily tablets, according to the results of a trial in Africa led by UCL (University College London) researchers.

17 Sep 2026

Teens can now order lunch from almost anywhere. Schools are facing a new dilemma

A national survey of 1,027 US adolescents aged 13 to 17 found that nearly one in four reported using mobile food delivery services during school hours, while almost half used them after school. Fast food and sugar-sweetened beverages were among the most commonly ordered items through delivery apps overall, while students also raised concerns about cost, inequality, safety, and disruption at school.

8 Sep 2026

Participatory approach empowers Filipino parents in bullying prevention

The Philippines has one of the highest rates of school bullying in the world: one in every three students is bullied at least once a week, according to the international Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

4 Sep 2026

Recipient reputation helps stabilize cooperation in large communities

When one person helps, or refuses to help, another in public, this may change not only the provider's reputation but also the recipient's.

24 Aug 2026

Survey provides a comprehensive snapshot of youth mental health and drug use in Ontario

Findings from the 2025 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS) released today by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) suggest that Ontario middle and high school students have rebounded from the heightened mental health challenges seen during and immediately following the COVID-19 pandemic.

24 Aug 2026

Researchers followed children for a decade to see whether screen time really mattered

A large Scottish birth cohort found that screen use showed limited and inconsistent associations with children’s emotional, behavioral, and social development from ages 5 to 15. Very high gaming in adolescence stood out, while several other associations weakened after adjustment, sensitivity analyses, or correction for multiple testing.

24 Aug 2026

Social media isn’t simply good or bad for young people, and this review shows why

Social media can support connection, self-expression, help-seeking, and community among adolescents and young adults, but problematic use is associated with depression, anxiety, loneliness, poor sleep, and body image concerns. The review finds that mental health effects depend less on screen time alone than on how social media is used, what content people encounter, and their individual, developmental, and cultural context.

12 Aug 2026

The screen-time story gets more complicated as children grow up

Higher screen use was not consistently associated with poorer psychosocial development across childhood and adolescence in a large Scottish cohort. Very high gaming at age 15 was linked to greater difficulties, while some social media use was associated with lower difficulties scores, although causality cannot be established.

12 Aug 2026

New survey reveals high mobile food delivery use among teens

Nearly one-quarter of teens reported using mobile food delivery services during school hours and almost half said they use them after school, according to a national survey of over 1,000 U.S. adolescents.

27 Jul 2026

Telepractice resilience program helps stuttering children build coping skills

A new University of Mississippi-led study suggests that a telepractice resilience program may help children who stutter develop coping and self-advocacy skills.

7 Jul 2026

Physical punishment linked to detrimental childhood outcomes, UCL researchers warn

Hitting children (often referred to as smacking) by parents or caregivers as a form of punishment is linked to behavioral problems and worse exam results and should be prohibited in England and Northern Ireland as soon as possible, UCL researchers say.

11 Jun 2026

Violence exposure linked to increased tobacco use among teens

One way to lower smoking rates among teens may be to address their exposure to violence, as an analysis from public health researchers at Brown University shows that the two are strongly linked.

29 May 2026

Children face lasting challenges after caustic esophageal injury surgery

Caustic ingestion remains a serious pediatric health problem, especially in domestic settings where corrosive substances may be improperly stored.

7 May 2026

Bullying and social policies worsen mental health in gender-diverse teens

Gender-diverse adolescents who experience bullying and live in states with persistently unsupportive gender identity laws are significantly more likely to suffer escalating psychological distress compared to their peers, according to new research by UCLA Health.

21 Apr 2026

Conflict exposure increases PTSD and suicidality among young people in Ukraine

For more than a decade, Ukrainian children have grown up with war as a constant backdrop. According to researchers, the psychological consequences are now becoming clear.

24 Mar 2026

Open-plan office layouts linked to higher bullying risk

Office design influences workplace bullying, with traditional open layouts linked to increased risks, underscoring the need for healthier work environments.

12 Mar 2026