I Really Need a Hug.

We live a time that has been defined by its scholars as the loneliest civilisation in human history. With the advances in communication and the standard of living it's highest in all recorded history, you would think this could not possibly be true, but it is

Intimacy and Health

Intimacy is so crucial to the development and the survival of the human species, it sets up the framework to the health and development of our entire neurobiological system. Intimacy, physical contact, facial mimicry and emotional validation impact the structure of your brain and how well your cells will function. The more reciprocal physical connections you have the lower your risk is of developing a stress-related illness. You will live longer, get sick less often and feel as though your life has more meaning. It is not new news that the smartphone has decimated our social structures and chemical bonds - since 2012 the rate of youth suicide has risen exponentially; along with heart disease, stroke, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and of course the basket of mental illnesses associated to loneliness and stress. As we look at the hiking statistics of human unhappiness and mental illness it can't be overlooked that one of the major contributors is the lack of social interactions. Social and emotional isolation and the poor quality of our already established relationships has crippled our health and wellbeing. So why is it we can't stop taking selfies and talk to our friends in person?...

EVEN JUST THE PRESENCE OF A SMARTPHONE LOWERS THE QUALITY OF IN-PERSON CONVERSATIONS

New research finds having a mobile device within easy reach divides your attention, even if you're not actively looking at it.  https://psmag.com/social-justice/presence-smart-phone-lowers-quality-person-conversations-85805

Are smartphones causing more teen suicides?

Increases in depression and suicide appeared among teens in 2012 – the same time smartphone ownership became the norm. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/may/24/smartphone-teen-suicide-mental-health-depression Guest Contributor: Emily Rack Business Name: Horatios Jar Publisher: Digital Schools Emily Rack is a yoga teacher, meditation instructor, freelance writer and visual content creator. She incorporates a unique creative flair into her yoga and meditation classes, courses and workshops. Emily hosts events and classes in schools and the wider community & is passionate about teaching the art of mindfulness. ——- PUBLISHER’S DISCLAIMER: The publisher of this blog post (Digital Schools PTY LTD) works in partnership with the school as a 3rd party provider to help build and maintain the school website. Digital Schools sources a range of experts who provide products and/or services to educational institutions and we work with them to produce and publish topical information in the form of blog posts that we think  may be relevant, interesting or topical to families within the community. The views, opinions and content listed in this blog post are that of the guest contributor and/or publisher (Digital Schools). It should be noted that whilst the publisher and guest contributors are acting with the best intentions and in the best interests of the school and their community to provide helpful or interesting information, sometimes the content may not necessarily reflect the views of the school. The information in this blog post is not meant to be used, nor should it be used, to diagnose or treat any medical condition. For diagnosis or treatment of any medical problem, consult your own physician.  The school and the publisher of this blog post  are not responsible for any person reading or following the information in this article who may experience adverse effects. Any references to external websites or sources are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute endorsement by the school or publisher in any way and the publisher and/or school cannot guarantee accuracy of information listed. If you have feedback on any content on this platform, you can submit it to the publisher using the feedback link provided at the bottom of this page.