In previous years, Men’s Health Week has focussed on issues such as obesity, depression, and the effects of COVID. The week is used to bring greater awareness of the matters that are likely to affect, or predominantly affect, men. Men’s Health Week works to reach boys alongside adults, and seeks to support those men in marginalised communities too.

This year, Men’s Health Week is placing the focus on technology. Sixteen years after the launch of the first iPhone, the campaign is scrutinising the health issues that now surround men in a digitally rich world, as well as considering the effects of young males who have grown up with powerful computer technology in their pocket.

There are a number of health issues that arise from digital and technological saturation, especially when we consider increased amounts of screen time. Many of the applications that our personal mobile devices host are designed to assure or increase addiction, delivering dopamine to our brains. This quickly delivered chemical message creates a sensation of pleasure, one that is repeated with increased engagement, driving users to see their device more frequently and for longer periods.

While such a source of pleasure might seem harmless, it actually has a number of negative effects. The most significant risk involved is the potential for addiction. As with any form of compulsive behaviour, addiction to mobile devices or similar dopamine focussed technologies leads to the neglect and compromise of other areas of life. Relationships, self-care, professional obligations, and finances can all become affected by the addictive experience of applications and social media.

Alongside compromising other areas of life, signs of smartphone addiction include the inability to regulate personal usage and experiencing distress or anxiety when being unable to access a device. Such impacts are well-documented and a 2021 study found that 1 in 3 young adults demonstrate problematic use, being classified by the study as addicted.

Other aspects of digital ubiquity, as well as the design, accessibility, and content of various online platforms, are increasing risks of gambling and pornography addiction, two addictions that affect a greater number of men than women. The number of individuals seeking help for pornography addiction has tripled, from over 10,000 to over 30,000, since the start of the pandemic, making it the second most common addiction men seek help for after alcohol. Pornography addiction, as with smartphone addiction, leads to a chemical imbalance in the brain, one that develops impulsive behaviour leading individuals to seek repeated exposure. Coupled with the ease of accessing an ever-growing amount of content, issues across the UK may only worsen.

If you feel like you are becoming too dependent on your smartphone or digital device, there are five steps shared by the Men’s Health Forum that you can take to improve your well-being:

• Connect – connect with other people (eg. call an old friend or family member) 
• (Be) Active – move your body (eg. go for a run/walk/swim/dance/etc)
• Notice – take notice of the environment around you (eg. turn off your phone for an hour and look around) 
• Discover – learn something new (eg. read a book you haven’t read before)
• Offer (or give) – do something for someone else (eg. volunteer for a local community group) 

By embracing these steps, individuals can work toward reducing their reliance on screentime and mitigate, or altogether eliminate, the impact of smartphone and device usage on other areas of their lives. Many smartphone manufacturers are now implementing optional screentime features on devices too, which can be utilised to highlight or altogether limit the amount of time spent on certain applications.

If you believe that your reliance on digital devices and applications might be negatively affecting your well-being or aspects of your lifestyle and routine, it can be incredibly valuable to speak to someone or seek support. At Bristol Counselling and Psychotherapy, we offer a safe and non-judgmental space to discuss addiction and mental health with support being offered by trained and experienced counsellors.

To speak to our team or to book an initial consultation, please contact us at hello@bristolcounsellingandpsychotheraphy.co.uk or by calling 07751 271709.