Technology, young people and mental health (RCPsych Congress 2026)

In this special CPD eLearning podcast, recorded at the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ International Congress in Liverpool, Dr Myooran Canagaratnam speaks with Prof Bernadka Dubicka about the complex relationship between technology and young people’s mental health. The discussion explores the current evidence on social media, gaming, sexting, self-harm content, online relationships, sleep, digital addiction and emerging technologies, and the challenges researching in this field.

Prof Dubicka also reflects on the influence of technology companies, the importance of routinely asking about young people’s digital lives in clinical practice and the development of a new digital use assessment tool. The episode concludes with a discussion of current research priorities, the challenges of keeping pace with rapidly evolving technology and the role of psychiatrists in advocating for safer digital environments.

Learning objectives

By the end of this podcast, you should be able to:

• describe the current evidence around digital technology and young people’s mental health and the challenges of conducting research in this field
• identify the potential risks and benefits of social media, gaming and other digital activities for young people
• recognise the wider context of young people’s digital experiences, including the role of technology companies, commercial influences and current government policy
• recognise the importance of enquiring about young people’s technology use when conducting psychiatric assessments, and gain awareness of the digital use assessment tool.

Availability

This podcast is available as part of a CPD eLearning subscription.