Mental health benefits and opportunities

Abstract Today’s youth are growing up in a rapidly advancing technological society. The involvement of technology in youth’s lives may impact their mental health in potentially both positive and negative ways, but these impacts may be modifiable when viewed in context. In this chapter, we provide an overview of—(1) how technology, particularly social technologies (i.e., those that incorporate and facilitate social connection) can contribute to adolescents’ psychological well-being and mental health; (2) the unique role and application of technology in adolescent mental health care; and (3) recommendations on how to use technology in school settings to promote mental health.