Impact of News on Mental Health

Max points: 5 Type: Podcast

This episode explores the mental health impact of doomscrolling, misinformation, and constant news alerts. Psychologists and neuroscientists explain how screen time rewires young brains, fuels anxiety, and disrupts sleep, while offering practical coping strategies, mindfulness tools, and parenting insights to build resilience in a digital world.

Channel: Ontario Shores Duration: 0:42:51

Questions

1. What strategy did the psychologist suggest for managing worry in a chaotic news cycle?

Avoiding all news entirely Classifying thoughts into productive vs. unproductive worries Keeping a gratitude journal only at bedtime Daily positive affirmations

2. According to the neuroscientist, which brain region develops last and supports inhibitory control and emotion regulation?

Amygdala Cerebellum Hippocampus Frontal lobes

3. Which Canadian school boards launched a lawsuit, for approximately how much, and against which platforms?

Toronto, Peel, and Ottawa-Carleton; about $4.5 billion; against Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok Ottawa-Carleton only; $500 million; against Reddit and Pinterest Toronto and York; $1 billion; against X and YouTube Peel and Halton; $750 million; against Twitch and Discord

4. What sleep-related guidance was highlighted to help protect learning, memory, and mood in youth?

Increase multitasking before bed Enable breaking news alerts overnight Limit screen use in bedrooms and avoid screens for at least 1 hour before bedtime Replace books with e-reading in bed to fall asleep faster

5. Who was the first guest interviewed and what is her role?

Dr. Reinhold Niebuhr, theologian and mental health advocate Dr. Lauren Fel, psychologist at Ontario Shores and regional clinical/training lead for the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy program Dr. Kevin Smith, psychiatrist at CAMH and host of the show Dr. Emma Duerden, neuroscientist at Western University and podcast co-host

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