Disconnect to Reconnect.

On World Mental Health Day, October 10, Educatius is proud to launch the 7-day initiative Disconnect to Reconnect. We want to inspire students, host families, and Educatius staff worldwide to reduce screen time, especially on social media, and engage in real-life activities throughout the week, with the hope of fostering long-lasting positive effects. It’s time to make a real change.

• Invite your friends, colleagues, and team. Share on LinkedIn or your social media channel of choice with the hashtag #DisconnectToReconnect
• The initiative will run between October 10 to 16
• Fill out the submission form to share your insights by October 20
• The six best contributions will each be awarded $150 each to a favorite local restaurant for a shared meal

WHY are we doing this?

For us, World Mental Health Day is a great opportunity to highlight and start a dialogue on mobile phone use and mental health among young people, and to stimulate real change. In our Global Youth Resilience Index, we identified that excessive phone use harms resilience and well-being, while moderate use is linked to higher emotional insight. The correlation between excessive screen use and mental and physical ill-health has been demonstrated in numerous international studies.

In the Global Youth Resilience Index, Educatius surveyed over 4,000 teenagers from nine countries across four continents, querying them in their native languages. The Index examines the impact of social media use, the benefits of international exposure, gender differences in resilience, and the influence of activities on youth resilience, providing a nuanced understanding of the factors that bolster the well-being of today’s teens.

Among the respondents, 62.5% spent up to 20 hours on social media in a typical week, while 27% reported spending more than 20 hours per week. On average, females reported spending 2.1 hours more per week on social media than males.

Building resilience among young people

The Global Youth Resilience Index extends beyond the report. Educatius collaborates with experienced staff, partners, and teen mental health professionals to provide a comprehensive support system for international students studying high school programs abroad. This includes interactive resilience training for students, host families, natural parents, and staff, all designed with the students’ well-being in mind.

Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity, challenges, or setbacks. It involves adapting positively to difficult circumstances, learning from experiences, and maintaining mental and emotional well-being. Resilient individuals can navigate life’s ups and downs with a sense of purpose, optimism, and perseverance.