Reclaiming Focus: Youth Mental Health vs. Smartphone Access

Youth Mental Health vs. Smartphone Access

Authors

Abstract

Problematic smartphone use (PSU) during school hours has been linked to academic disengagement, heightened exposure to cyber risks, and adverse mental health outcomes among students. In response, K-12 schools nationwide have adopted restrictive smartphone policies. However, these policy measures raise important questions of equity, student autonomy, and compliance. This policy brief examines the intersection of smartphone access in schools and the escalating youth mental health crisis. Drawing on stakeholder perspectives and peer-reviewed research, it proposes a multidimensional framework integrating tiered-use policies, digital literacy education, expanded access to mental health services, and initiatives to strengthen school connectedness. The goal is to reconcile public health priorities with inclusive, equitable, and developmentally responsive policy interventions that safeguard the well-being and mental health of the nation’s youth.

 

 

Keywords: Youth mental health, students, adolescents, access, smartphones, cell phones, problematic smartphone use (PSU), smartphone restriction

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Published

2025-12-11

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 5 (2025): Articles

Section

Healthcare Administration

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