Mental health and digital use for youth

Countries in the Western Pacific Region are undergoing rapid digital transformation, with children and young people among the most intensive users of digital technologies. Digital platforms offer important opportunities for learning, connection, and participation. 

At the same time, evidence on the impact of technology use is mixed and some patterns of harmful or excessive digital use are associated with mental health and well-being risks among young people, including anxiety, depression, sleep problems, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful content – particularly for those already facing vulnerabilities. 

These concerns are increasingly shaping public policy. For example, Australia has restricted access to social media for children under the age of 16, reflecting heightened concern about the impact of social media on youth mental health and well-being. This has sparked broader debate on how to balance protection from harm with young people’s rights, digital inclusion, and access to support. 

In the Western Pacific Region, these challenges are compounded by high suicide rates among adolescents and young adults and limited access to youth-friendly mental health services. 

Despite existing global guidance on youth mental health and digital well-being, implementation across the Region remains uneven. The World Health Organization (WHO) advocates a people‑centred, equity‑driven and evidence‑based approach, supported by strong governance, regulation and standards that protect privacy and safety, and that enables practical, youth‑centred solutions to be integrated across digital, education and health systems. 

A regional dialogue is therefore crucial to share emerging policy experiences and identify practical actions to promote healthy and safe digital use for young people.

Objectives

• To strengthen shared understanding of the relationship between digital use and youth mental health in the Western Pacific Region
• To highlight the importance of integrating mental health considerations into digital, education, and health system policies and programmes
• To identify practical approaches and future actions to promote safe, healthy, and inclusive digital environments for young people

Participants

• Policy-makers and programme managers from ministries of health, education, youth, and digital/ICT sectors, including child protection and digital health focal points
• Mental health professionals, school health teams, and primary health care providers working with children and adolescents
• Academic and research institutions working on youth mental health, digital well-being, and online safety
• Young people, people with lived experience, families, caregivers, and community representatives