On November 19, Vancouver Technical and surrounding school communities came together to learn about teen mental health in the digital age. With coffee, hot chocolate and snacks in hand, caregivers (many accompanied by their children) gathered together to listen, learn and exchange ideas.

The event, hosted by the Counselling and Admin Team at Van Tech, featured a screening of the powerful documentary Screenagers: Next Chapter by Dr. Delaney Ruston. The film delves into the challenges of teen stress, anxiety, and depression in our ever-connected world.

Livia, a mother of three, thinks that many parents share her concerns around digital usage. “Screentime is a constant struggle for me and my children. I am here with my sister and a friend and it’s a big group of us.  We all have the same issues and frustrations that come with managing screentime. I brought my children to see the documentary because I want my kids to learn to regulate their phone usage better," she said. “I also want to learn how to communicate better with my soon to be teens.”

Attendees were provided with practical, research-backed strategies to help teens build emotional resilience and manage stress. Following the documentary, a Q&A panel discussion took place, where mental health experts and youth development professionals addressed questions and shared valuable insights.

The panelists included:

• David Waisberg: Grade 8 Counsellor at Van Tech
• Kelsey McCready: Youth and Family Worker at Van Tech with expertise in mental health leadership, and peer mentorship
• Paul Keeling: Freelance writer and Van Tech parent who writes about technology and environmental philosophy, including an op-ed on teen cell phone use
• Aislinn O’Leary: Mental Health Clinician at Child and Youth Mental Health with a Master’s in Child Development Psychology. Works with Child and Youth Mental Health in Vancouver.

During the discussion period, participants commented on how much they appreciated seeing the teens in the documentary openly discuss their feelings, and particularly seeing boys openly discuss their mental health issues.

Leanne Hagglund, grade 12 counselor who helped organize the family nights spoke about the positive feedback from participants and highlighted the importance of such initiatives in supporting the mental well-being of our youth.

“Last spring, we hosted our first Family Night with a focus on mental health, and the response from our community was overwhelmingly positive. This event highlighted the strong desire among our families for in-person opportunities to connect with each other and with the school.These events have been more than just a chance to meet; they have increased a sense of belonging within our school community. At this time, these events provided families with an opportunity to learn more about a topic of great relevance: mental health in the digital age,” she said.

Keep up to date with Van Tech news for the next available session.