Our Social Media Training Is Back in 2020!
3rd December 2019
Social Media and its effect on people’s mental health is a hot topic at the moment, with more and more research emerging suggesting that it may have a detrimental impact.
Instagram has recently trialled a feature where users are no longer able to see how many likes a post has received, after a 2017 study named it as the platform most likely to have a negative effect on young people’s health and wellbeing.
On top of this, campaigns to end cyber bullying and ‘trolling’ have been backed by influential stars such as Little Mix’s Jesy Nelson, who provided a very harrowing personal account of the impact that social media bullying had on her life following her rise to fame.
Never before have we been more conscious of the impact and risks of social media and the internet. This increase in awareness is very important if we want to begin finding ways to mediate its effects. However, it is sometimes overlooked how people with traumatic brain injuries may struggle even more than the average person to navigate the ever-changing world of the internet.
Research shows that 74% of individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) use the internet, and 79% of these individuals have a social media account. This is great in many ways as it can help to keep people in touch with their family and friends, and may go some way to helping combat the social isolation that is so common in the TBI population.
However, it also comes with increased risks. Users with TBI encounter all of the above issues like the average user, however they may also be dealing with additional difficulties such as memory problems, difficulty focusing and sustaining attention and reduced impulse control. All of these factors may exacerbate the risks and mean that users with TBI are more vulnerable to a variety of negative outcomes from being active online and on social media.
As the psychologists, case managers, care teams, and solicitors who support clients with traumatic brain injury, it is especially important that we understand the complex interaction between TBI and the internet, so that we can better help our clients to use if safely.
That’s why in 2020 we are again running our popular training session “The Risks of Social Media and Online Use!” This one-day training event looks at the risks presented by the internet and social media for clients with acquired brain injury and provides up-to-date information and advice for those who support them.
Due to the success of this training in 2019 we will be running it twice in 2020; on the 11th February 2020 and the 23rd June 2020. It will be run by our very own Dr Richard Maddicks at our Havant offices, from 10am-3pm.
We are currently offering an ‘Early Bird’ rate of £85 + VAT for these sessions, which includes our fantastic lunch! However, this rate will not be around for much longer, so if you are interested in booking on to this training event, fill out one of our booking forms today by clicking here.
References
https://www.nhs.uk/news/food-and-diet/instagram-ranked-worst-for-mental-health-in-teen-survey/
Hoofien, Gilboa, Vakil, Donovick, 2001
Baker-Sparr et al., 2018