On World Suicide Prevention Day, a psychiatrist explains when screen use becomes a mental health concern in teenagers, warning signs of addiction and links to suicidal thoughts and behaviours
As we observe World Suicide Prevention Day 2026 on September 10, it serves as a global reminder of the urgent need to understand and address factors that may contribute to suicidal thoughts among young people.
Against this backdrop, a recent study on adolescents has raised an important question for parents: when does screen time become a mental health concern?
According to Dr Nikita Ravtani, Consultant Psychiatrist, Gleneagles Chennai, the concern is not simply about how many hours teenagers spend on their phones, but how dependent they become on screens.
“The study followed more than 4,000 young people and found that those showing patterns of addictive screen use had a higher risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviours,” she explains.
“Interestingly, it was not just the number of hours spent on social media, gaming or phones. The concern was more about loss of control and dependence.”
From a psychiatrist’s point of view, parents should therefore look beyond the number of hours. “The type of content a child is consuming also matters. Short-form content, particularly videos of less than a minute such as Reels and Shorts, provide a constant stream of quick, stimulating content,” says the psychiatrist.
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The rapid shift from one video to another can encourage repeated scrolling and frequent checking, making it harder for young people to stop. Compared with longer-form content, this constant cycle of short and stimulating content can reinforce addictive patterns of screen use and may have a greater impact on attention and the brain’s reward system.
“The first is loss of control. If a teenager repeatedly tries to cut down their phone, social media or gaming use but cannot, or becomes extremely upset when asked to stop, parents should take notice,” says the expert. Constantly checking the phone or feeling unable to stay away from it can also be a warning sign.
“The second is whether screen use is affecting everyday life. Parents may notice that the child is staying up late using the phone, struggling to concentrate on studies, losing interest in activities they previously enjoyed, avoiding family time or becoming less socially engaged. A noticeable change in sleep pattern is also something parents should not ignore,” shares the psychiatrist with Firstpost.
The third is understanding why the child is turning to the screen. “If a teenager increasingly uses social media, gaming or their phone whenever they feel lonely, stressed, rejected or upset, it is important to understand what may be happening emotionally,” she adds further.
The screen may be becoming a way of escaping difficult feelings rather than simply a source of entertainment. At the same time, parents should not assume that every teenager who spends several hours online has an addiction or is at risk of suicide.
The study found an association with addictive patterns of screen use, not with total screen time alone. It also does not prove that screen use itself causes suicidal thoughts or behaviours.
“This is why simply taking the phone away may not always solve the problem. Parents should try to have a calm conversation with the child and understand what they are going through. Asking questions, listening without immediately judging and creating an environment where the teenager feels comfortable talking can make a difference,” states the psychiatrist.
If parents notice persistent changes in mood or behaviour, increasing withdrawal, loss of interest, hopelessness, self-harm or any talk about suicide, these should never be dismissed as normal teenage behaviour or blamed only on screen use. The child should be taken seriously and professional mental-health support should be sought promptly.
The key message for parents is that the question should not only be, “How many hours is my child spending on the phone?” It should also be, “What is my child watching, how are they using the screen, and is it affecting their sleep, relationships, studies, interests and emotional well-being? Those changes can provide a much clearer picture of whether screen use is becoming a problem.