Members of the Washburn University Psychology Club gathered Friday afternoon, March 13, in the Memorial Union for a panel led by clinical psychology graduate students. The panel explored how media consumption can influence mood, behavior, and mental health.
The discussion examined the components of worry, including physiological, cognitive, and behavioral, and their effects on the body, as well as how these effects are increased with prolonged or excessive use of social media.
“We can spend days, weeks, months on [our phones],” said Fredrick Moore, clinical psychology graduate student. “To be mindful of this moving forward and knowing how little things can have such a big impact, I think this panel really touched on it today.”
The panel discussed ways to combat the negative effects of media consumption, including adding tech-free periods to your day and turning off your notifications.
President of the Psychology Club, Carter Johnston, said the panel’s topic is especially relevant to college students.
“One thing that I wish students would understand about the relationship [with social media] would be that although it is a good source of information, they should take a step back just because it does affect their mood and their well-being,” Johnston said.
When faced with disturbing headlines, the panel highlighted strategies to help combat anxiety and feelings of existential dread. These include writing down and processing headlines, and becoming more active in advocacy organizations or local nonprofits.
Following the discussion, another psychology graduate student, Sierra Vigneron, emphasized the significance of mental health professionals protecting their own well-being while also understanding the challenges their clients face.
“Clients really bond with a therapist over shared experiences and examples. And if you’re not able to provide that, it can get in the way of providing services,” Vigneron said. “That’s really important, I think, to teach young adults how to consume the media responsibly and in a way that is not going to be harmful for themselves.”
The Washburn University psychology club will hold its next event on April 3, offering students the chance to hear about the club’s Executive Team and opportunities to get involved.
Edited by Stuti Khadka
