My name is Melanie –Jay Pabai and I am taking on the role of Community Education Counsellor at Atherton SHS. I am a past student, who is very excited to be back. I look forward to working closely with all staff members to ensure student’s transition through their high school years is a successful, and memorable journey.

L to R—Mary Fagan, Florence Akee, Melanie-Jay Pabai

Grace Darr, Emily Muller, Tamia Drew, Eliza Tolley

Atherton SHS placed first overall in the high school division.

Grace placed first overall in grade 11/ 12 and Emily placed third overall in grade 11/12.

Tamia and Eliza also brought home a couple ribbons.

Chris’ Weekly Spot Following on from last week’s article, I thought it would be helpful to establish the difference

between addiction and overuse. And even though overuse of smartphones may not be clinically

classified as addiction, is over reliance and dependency on an inanimate object ok?

So what is addiction?

Addiction can be described as a psychological and physical inability to stop consuming a substance

or activity, even though it is causing psychological and physical harm. A person who cannot stop

taking a particular drug or chemical has a substance addiction. Someone who has an inability to

stop partaking in activities such as gambling, eating, or exercise is said to have a behavioural

addiction. When a person experiences addiction, they cannot control how they use a substance or

partake in an activity, and they become dependent on it to cope with daily life.

An addiction impacts an individual’s life greatly and a tolerance is developed whereby the individual

needs more and more of the substance or activity to achieve the same ‘fix’. Individuals need their

‘fix’ to feel better, happy or more at ease. And withdrawal symptoms are experienced when the

substance or activity cannot be accessed.

Rather than addiction, smartphone users more commonly report obsessive behaviour. Users

constantly check their phone, seeking opportunities for a short dopamine reward. Others merely use

their phone as a distraction from boredom or mundane tasks such as travelling on public transport.

Ok, so it’s not an addiction. This does not mean that excessive use and an over reliance on your

phone is healthy. Several studies have suggested a correlation with heavy smartphone use and

increasing mental health issues such as depression and suicide. Suicide rates have increased

significantly since smartphone ownership has become commonplace among young people. Young

people seek that reward, that dopamine ‘hit’ but not all notifications make you smile. Many have

experienced the negative side of social media. It can leave you feeling worse, depleted and

inadequate. Yet the pleasurable memory of past rewards keeps young people returning….and

returning….and returning!!

The primary area of the brain that is responsible for logical thinking and sound decision-making in

teens is still developing and their reward and pleasure centre is highly activated. These two factors

can make a teen highly susceptible to smartphone overuse. Instant gratification verses ‘slogging it

out’ over an assignment. Pleasure verses pain. ‘Want to do’ verses ‘have to do’. Logic doesn’t enter

the equation.

Chris’ Weekly Spot cont Yet, for young people the social world is a priority, as it influences the development of self-identity

and the need to feel validated. Teens are hard-wired to seek affirmation and acceptance in social

settings.

Once upon a time, we humans sought acceptance and validation via face-to-face interactions. Now

with the rise of social media engines like Instagram and Snapchat, we have social validation at our

fingertips. So it’s no surprise that when young people have the technology to extend their social

connections into the big wide world –they do so without question.

One thing for sure is that technology is here to stay. For young people who have grown up with

technology by their side it isn’t just a novelty, it’s a way of life. Yet, with smartphone usage (along

with most other aspects of daily life) the old adage still rings true……..’Everything in Moderation’.

As recent studies suggest, moderate amounts of internet and social media use are in fact positive to

a young person’s health and wellbeing. Overuse is not.

NEXT WEEK: Why smartphone overuse isn’t so great!!

Paying School Fees