Teens, Social Media, and Mental Health

 

As the internet's role in the lives of young people continues to expand, so do fears of children becoming addicted. It's sad to realize that kids today will never know a world without social media - to the point that some parents admit that they're trying to keep their kids disconnected for as long as possible.👪

Teachers and those who work with young children have already noticed a marked decrease in attention span. Spending too much time on social media platforms already gives kids unrealistic expectations and creates low tolerance for boredom. AI has created new issues of concern that as kids get older, many tend to replace real interactions with inauthentic interactions, which is confusing to kids overall.

In 2025, experts from Pew Research Center found that about half (48%) of teens surveyed admit that social media has a "mostly negative effect" on people their age and 45% of teens admit to spending too much time on it.📱

Teens and parents may not realize that the goal of these companies is to always keep teens spending time on that platform. Whether or not the content makes the teens feel good or bad is immaterial to how the algorithms are programmed. 

Parents are advised to keep a watchful eye on their teens, monitor the social media platforms they use, and talk to them about balancing screen time as well as real time.

Read more about the use of social media and its impact on the wellbeing of today's youth, please visit: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2025/04/22/teens-social-media-and-mental-health/

40 Years-40 Stories of InnerAct Alliance | Story #34: Celebrating UthMpact Class XV Graduates – Hope Hallock and Angelly Hernandez

 

40 Years - 40 Stories | Story #34: Celebrating UthMpact Class XV Graduates - Hope Hallock and Angelly Hernandez

As we continue celebrating our 2025-2026 UthMpact Leadership Class XV graduates, we're honored to highlight two exceptional young leaders who completed the program on April 1, 2026!

Today, we celebrate UthMpact Graduates:

🎓 Hope Hallock
University of Florida
Majoring in Mathematics

🎓 Angelly Hernandez
Ridge Technical College

The UthMpact Experience - through monthly Leadership Days, these graduates traveled throughout Polk County to meet with community leaders and experience the inner workings of local volunteerism, business, government, healthcare, education, and law enforcement. They learned crucial leadership skills while educating their peers about substance abuse prevention through projects like Project Prom, Project HOCO, and UthMpact Facts social norms campaigns.

Congratulations Hope and Angelly! Your dedication to leadership has made a lasting impression on our community and we can't wait to see all you'll accomplish!

*Follow UthMpact: https://www.facebook.com/UthMpactPolk?

*More info: Contact Samantha Barwig at (863) 802-0777

*Support Our Programs: www.inneractalliance.org

*Text IAA to 26989

#40Years40Stores #InnerActAlliance #UthMpact
#ClassOf2026 #GraduatingSeniors #FutureLeaders
#ProudMoment #PolkCounty #YouthLeadership

Resources and Support for Mental Health Awareness Month

 

InnerAct Alliance is proud to join with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Partnership to End Addiction, and other national and community partners to promote Mental Health Awareness Month during the month of May. This tradition dates back to 1949 and includes raising awareness, sharing resources, and supporting individuals and communities who need it most.

Mental Health includes emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. Research shows that up to 50% of young people with mental health conditions may also struggle with substance use. Teens using drugs or alcohol may be dealing with anxiety, depression, or other conditions. As a parent, you can't prevent your child from feeling stress, but you can help them learn to cope and provide extra support and stability when they go through stressful life events.

The Partnership to End Addiction has shared simple suggestions for parents and caregivers to teach kids healthy stress management the equips them to manager life's pressures and stay healthy as they grow:

*Help your child put a name to their feelings - ask how they feel and listen without judging

*Teach kids simple ways to cope - taking a break, moving their body, or talking to someone can really help ease a stressful moment

*Stay connected - make time to talk early and often so that your child feels comfortable coming to you

There is also an informative video on the topic of Co-Occurring Disorders that helps explain a combination that may occur when mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, or ADHD overlap with substance use. 

Click to view the 7-minute video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPkF1_Bjwjg

Help is available 24/7 through the 988 Lifeline network and the call or text to 988 is FREE and confidential. You may also visit https://988lifeline.org to access skilled crisis workers at the 988 Lifeline centers across the U.S. 

Other options for supportive online resources are SAMHSA https://www.samhsa.gov/find-support  or CDC https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/. Visit InnerAct Alliance for more health-related resources and tips: https://www.inneractalliance.org/. Stay informed - stay connected - stay safe!

Memorial Day Weekend: Remember & Honor

 

On this Memorial Day Weekend, we pay tribute to the heroes who have sacrificed to uphold the cherished values of the United States of America. 

It's a day of remembrance and reflection for all U.S. military personnel who have died in service and the families who lost a loved one during our nation's wars. We owe a debt of gratitude to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

Let's make this Memorial Day Weekend

a celebration of courage, honor, and unity!

ABCs of Substance Use Disorder

 

Substance use and mental health disorders can make daily activities difficult and impair a person's ability to work, interact with family, and fulfill other major life functions. It helps to stay informed, know the facts, and invest in prevention programs and initiatives that help to educate and support individuals and communities to prevent the use and misuse of drugs and other risky behaviors.

ADDICTION - drug addiction or substance use disorder is a disease that affects a person's brain and behavior. Substances such as alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine are considered drugs. When addicted, users may continue to use the drug despite knowing the harm it causes, even as it creates problems in everyday life or as it progresses into physical or psychological harm.

BRAIN & BEHAVIOR CHANGES - addiction can begin with experimental use of a recreational drug in social situations. For some, drug use can become more frequent. It can cause absenteeism and loss of motivation leading to declining performance at school or at work. Physical Addiction occurs when repeated use of a drug changes the way your brain feels pleasure. Addictive Drugs can cause physical changes to nerve cells called neurons in your brain. Neurons use chemicals called neurotransmitters to communicate. These changes can remain long after users stop using the drug. 

CAUSES - several factors may contribute to development of drug addiction including environment (family beliefs and attitudes/exposure to a peer group encouraging drug use) and genetics (inherited traits may lead to drug use and delay/speed up disease progression). Risk of addiction and how fast it occurs can vary by the type of drug. Opioid painkillers have a higher risk to cause addiction more quickly than others. Soon, larger doses may be needed just to feel good. As drug use increases, users find it difficult to live without the drug. Attempts to stop may cause intense cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and even physical illness.

PREVENTION - the best way to prevent an addiction to a drug is not to take drugs at all. If your medical provider prescribes a drug with potential for addiction, follow the instructions and use extreme care when taking it. Use of medications should be carefully monitored to ensure users are not given too large of a dose or taken for too long a time.  

40 Years-40 Stories of InnerAct Alliance | Story #33: Celebrating UthMpact Class XV Graduates – Audra Ezell & Kayla Ezell

 

40 Years-40 Stories | Story #33: Celebrating UthMpact Class XV Graduates - Audra Ezell & Kayla Ezell

As we continue celebrating our 2025-2026 UthMpact Leadership Class XV graduates, we're honored to highlight two more exceptional young leaders - sisters who both completed the program on April 1, 2026!

Today, we celebrate UthMpact Graduates:

🎓 Audra Ezell
University of South Florida
Majoring in Finance

🎓Kayla Ezell
Florida Southern College
Majoring in Criminal Justice

A Family Tradition - over the past 15 years, UthMpact has been fortunate to have many siblings participate in our unique Leadership Program and pass down the tradition to younger family members. Audra and Kayla exemplify this legacy, both dedicating themselves to leadership development and substance abuse prevention together!

The UthMpact Experience - through monthly Leadership Days, these graduates enjoyed traveling throughout Polk County to meet with community leaders and experience the inner workings of local volunteerism, business, government, healthcare, education, and law enforcement. They learned crucial leadership skills while educating their peers about substance abuse prevention through projects like Project Prom, Project HOCO, and UthMpact Facts social norms campaigns.

Congratulations, Audra and Kayla! Your sisterhood and shared dedication to leadership have made a lasting impact on our community. We can't wait to see all you'll accomplish!

*Follow UthMpact: https://www.facebook.com/UthMpactPolk?

*More Info: Contact Samantha Barwig at (863) 802-0777

*Support: https://www.inneractalliance.org/donations.html

*Text IAA to 26989

#40Years40Stories #InnerActAlliance #UthMpact #ClassOf2026 #GraduatingSeniors #FutureLeaders #ProudMoment #PolkCounty #YouthLeadership

Tips to Support Mental Health Every Day

 

In today's always-connected world, we walk a fine line between being "connected" or "consumed" by our interactions with technology. While the benefits of technology can offer connection, support, or even healing, it can also contribute to stress, comparison, misinformation, and unhealthy habits if it is not used mindfully.

During Mental Health Month this May, InnerAct Alliance joins our local community partners at Peace River along with national partners in mental health, to encourage healthy digital habits. This year's theme, "Wired for Wellness: Navigating Media, Gaming, & Social Connection," highlights how we can build resilience, set healthy boundaries, and use technology in ways that support, not harm, our mental health with some of the following tips:

*Pause Before You Scroll - notice how content makes you feel. If it increases stress, anxiety, or comparion  take a break

*Set Simple Boundaries - create "no phone" time, such as during meals or before bed, to give your mind time to recharge

*Don't Believe Everything You See - algorithms feed you more of what you watch. Online content can reinforce fears or lead to self-diagnosis. Seek trusted sources when it comes to your health.

*Use Technology Intentionally - ask yourself, "why am I opening this app?" Connection and purpose > mindless scrolling

*Gaming Can Be Positive - video games can help reduce stress and build connection but watch for overuse, sleep loss, or withdrawal from daily life. It's important to keep a healthy balance

*Protect Your Peace Online - unfollow, mute, or block accounts that negatively impact your mental health

Support is a Phone Call Away at Peace River Center

24-Hour Emotional Support & Crisis Line

(863) 519-3744

Text "TALK" to (863) 204-3443