Mental health has been in the spotlight in recent weeks, as the "Semaines de la santé mentale" initiative has prompted conferences, discussions, and workshops across Luxembourg.
Amid the initiative, the National Addiction Prevention Centre (CNAPA) hosted its Resilience Forum under the theme "healthy living in a digital world" on Friday, which explored how individuals can make conscious use of digital technology without undermining their health.
Director of CNAPA Anouk Hinger emphasised the importance of making intentional decisions about how much time we spend on our smartphones or tablets, as well as being mindful about how we actually use these devices.
Constant connectivity can be uncomfortable for many people and, based on her own experience, being always available on a smartphone is not necessarily positive for mental wellbeing and can easily become a source of stress and distraction, making it harder to focus on tasks.
This impact is not limited to adults: children and teenagers, who often receive even more notifications, can also be affected.
While smartphones and their various applications are convenient and helpful, this convenience comes at a cost, according to Hinger: people have become increasingly reliant on their devices, sometimes to the extent that simple tasks, such as finding directions, feel impossible without them.
According to Hinger, no specific age group is uniquely at risk from the mental health effects of digital technologies.
However, she noted that children and young people may be particularly susceptible to developing habits that are difficult to break later in life.
Hinger underlined the importance of equipping young people with the skills needed to navigate the digital world responsibly.
For her, it is essential not to accept information online at face value but to learn how to critically assess the content encountered on digital platforms.
Robert Reuter, assistant professor at the University of Luxembourg, also highlighted that such fundamental skills are not new. Basic education has always included reading, writing, arithmetic, and, crucially, critical thinking.
These competencies are integral to engaging with the world and interpreting various forms of media, including texts, images, and videos, he said.
While media education is not a new concept, its importance has grown in the digital age, making it vital for young people to develop robust media literacy skills.
Finally, Hinger stressed the crucial role adults play in shaping children's and teenagers' attitudes towards digital devices.
She argued that young people look up to adults for guidance, and it is a collective responsibility to demonstrate that it is not necessary to have a phone in hand at all times.
Instead, adults should show that it can be beneficial to put devices aside or even switch them off completely.
