October's Newsletter

Let's Talk About...Screen Time

Each month, we’re taking a deeper dive into a topic related to trauma-informed or gender-responsive care.

This month, we’re exploring how screen time affects well-being and mental health.

Screen time—including gaming and social media—can have significant effects on youth and family mental health. While gaming disorder is recognized in the ICD-11 and DSM-5, internet use disorder remains debated, though symptoms such as compulsive use and functional impairment are very real. These concerns are especially important for children and adolescents, whose developing brains and social-emotional skills make them more sensitive to the reinforcing effects of online environments. At the same time, gaming and social media can offer opportunities for connection, creativity, and skill-building. Understanding both the risks and benefits helps families and clinicians support healthier, more balanced technology use.

Scroll down to find clinical resources, tips for identifying problematic internet use, and ideas for maintaining your own healthy screen habits.

Featured Clinical Resources

• PESI Training: Screen Time, Learning, and Communication in the 21st Century

  • In this session you'll learn: how to select media experiences informed by the child, the context, and the content; the research on the benefits and risks of screen time; why children and adolescents with ASD, ADHD, and language impairments are at particular risk; and strategies to manage screen time and alternatives to screen time.

• Ohio State University College of Social Work Self-Paced Course: Social Media's Impact on Self-Esteem and Mental Health
  
  • This training examines the relationship between social media use and mental health. The session explores both the positive and negative effects of social media, including its impact on self-esteem, anxiety, depression and social connectedness. The session discusses skills and interventions that can be utilized when working with clients managing their mental health in this digital age.
    
    
• American Academy of Pediatrics' Problematic Media Use Screening and Intervention Tools for Clinicians
  • Part of the larger Center of Excellence for Social Media and Youth Mental Health, this resource provides tools and resources for identifying problematic media use through motivational interviewing and conversation starters, and interventions for treatment. 
    
    
• Free Stanford Online Seminar: Understanding Social Media's Role in Mental Health
  • This talk explores how social media can both support and harm mental health, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary, longitudinal, and computational approaches to understand real-world experiences, guide ethical research, and inform interventions that promote well-being.
    
    
• PESI Training: From Likes to Life: How Social Media Impacts Youth Mental Health

  • This presentation equips clinicians to understand social media’s profound impact on youth mental health, identify risks, tailor interventions, and promote digital well-being to support healthier online behaviors.

• Evergreen Council on Problem Gaming Foundations in Gaming Disorder Training

  • This professional development opportunity equips clinicians to screen for and treat gaming disorder while exploring its impact on diverse populations and connections to other behavioral health and addiction issues.

• Free NAADAC Webinar: Diagnosis and Treatment of Gaming Use Disorder
  • This presentation will outline the signs and symptoms of gaming use disorder, highlight the developmental skills often lacking in those affected, and explore treatment approaches to help clients build these skills. It will also examine common co-occurring disorders and their implications for clinical practice.
    
    

Conversation Starters for Assessing Screen Time, Gaming, or Social Media Use

With new clients, establish a baseline understanding of routines and habits in a non-judgmental way. 

• "What does a typical day look like for you, including free time and online activities?" 
• "When things get stressful or boring, what do you usually do to relax?" 
• "Do you spend a lot of time on social media or gaming?" 
• "How do you feel your screen time affects your sleep, mood, or energy?" 
• "Have friends or family ever mentioned concern about the time you spend online?" 

For existing clients, aim to track changes and identify emerging concerns. 

• "How are you sleeping these days? Any late nights?"
• "Any new hobbies you've been into lately?"
• “How are things going with your social life these days?”
• "What's your evening or weekend routine been lately? Any changes in screen time habits?"
• "When you're feeling anxious, bored, or sad, do you notice yourself turning to screens more?"
• "Have you tried taking a break from screens lately? How'd that go?" 
• "Are there any parts of social media that make you feel good or connected?"

With youth, frame questions to be developmentally appropriate, engage curiosity, and reduce defensiveness. 

• "What do you like to do for fun after school? Do you play games or use social media?" 
• "When things feel stressful or boring at school, what's the first thing you usually do?" 
• "Do you ever stay up later than you planned because of games or apps?"
• "How does being online or gaming affect hanging out with friends and family?"
• "Do your parents, teachers, or friends ever comment on how much time you spend online?"
• "Which apps or games make you feel happy or relaxed, and which ones stress you out?" 
  
  

Lessons From My Time Online

Provided by Alana Valdez, MA, Project Coordinator and Formerly Chronically Online Person

Have you ever tried to limit your own screen time to no avail? As an iPhone user, the Screen Time app seemed great in theory: you can track your weekly phone usage, intentionally limit usage of certain apps or time on your phone in general, and set limits on communication. As soon as the app became available, I limited myself to one hour of social media usage a day, across all platforms. At first, it was great; I'd get a reminder that my time was up and pick up a book, go for a walk, or reach out to a friend. 

As someone who has probably been too active on social media for nearly two decades, I should have realized it wouldn't be that easy. I quickly began hitting "ignore" to bypass my own self-imposed restrictions, and soon removed them altogether when I got sick of pretending I was going to adhere to them. My affinity for gaming presented another challenge. While I normally prefer story-driven, open-world games like Fallout, I fell hard for the addictive, online Fortnite. When I started getting real-world angry that a 12-year-old playing as a giant anthropomorphic banana had killed me, I knew it was time to cut back.

That frustration made me realize that it wasn't just about limiting time. Thinking of reducing my internet usage as losing something, rather than gaining back time to pursue my art, or build relationships, or fuel my body with nutritious food I cooked myself, was what prevented me from actually cutting back. In addition, I started to restructure my time online to be focused on the good the internet has to offer—connection, creativity, accessible learning, skill-sharing—rather than doomscrolling and yelling at my Xbox. 

Some practical strategies that actually helped me include: 

• Playing games collaboratively: Fortnite with a friend or Minecraft with my young cousin, or an offline co-op game with my partner. 
• Following inspiring content and creators: Intentionally seeking out content around crochet, baking, and wellness to retrain my algorithm and encourage me to get off my phone.
• Using online tools for offline goals: Creating Pinterest boards of visual inspiration, using note-taking apps to make lists of projects I want to do or structure the organization of my roomful of yarn, and using apps like Storygraph to track my reading.
• Limiting phone use first thing in the morning: Using a real alarm clock instead of the alarm on my phone to avoid immediate scrolling. 
• Giving myself grace when I inevitably get sucked into a scroll or down a niche rabbit hole. 

While I'm not a clinician, I am a person who feels much more content with my relationship to the internet than ever before. I have a sense of control around my consumption and feel eager—not obligated—to use my phone for things that fulfill me holistically. 

Insights & Resources

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), also called Intimate Partner Violence Awareness Month, first observed nationally in 1987 as a way to connect advocates across the country, honor survivors, and mourn those lost to intimate partner violence. What began as a single “Day of Unity” has grown into a month-long call to action to raise awareness, strengthen services, and build safer communities. Nationwide, intimate partner violence remains a critical public health issue: 1 in 4 cisgender women and 1 in 9 cisgender men experience severe intimate partner violence in their lifetime. 

The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports that in Connecticut alone, shelters continue to operate over capacity, and fatalities remain a persistent tragedy. Yet within this crisis, some survivors remain underrepresented in conversations and underserved in support: women of color, immigrant and undocumented survivors, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, and older adults all face unique risks and barriers to care. For example, survivors with disabilities may experience abuse tied to neglect or isolation, while LGBTQ+ individuals are often less likely to encounter affirming services despite experiencing equal or higher rates of violence compared to heterosexual peers.

Resources:

• 211-CT Domestic Violence & Partner Abuse Resources
  
• CT Domestic Violence Crisis Center, Norwalk & Stamford
• Susan B. Anthony Project, Northwest Connecticut
• CT Safe Connecticut, a 24/7, free & confidential information and resource line operated by CCADV
  • Call or text 888-774-2900
  • Email safeconnect@ctcadv.org
• The Network, North Central Connecticut
• The Center for Family Justice, serving Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford, and Trumbull

Indigenous Peoples' Day

October’s second Monday is now widely observed as Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a shift from the Columbus Day narrative that recognizes the resilience, enduring presence, and sovereignty of Native communities. The idea was first proposed at a 1977 United Nations conference to counter colonial narratives, and by 1992, Berkeley became one of the first U.S. cities to officially adopt it. In Connecticut, current state-recognized tribes include the Golden Hill Paugussett, Schaghticoke, and Eastern Pequot, while the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribe are federally recognized.

This acknowledgment is also a moment to center conversations around behavioral health and substance use disorder in Indigenous communities, which often bear the cumulative burdens of historical trauma, systemic inequities, and under-resourced mental health systems. Nationally, the suicide rate for American Indian and Alaska Native adults is higher than all other racial and ethnic groups (NAMI). From 2019 to 2020, the overdose rate among Native populations increased by 39% and from 2016 to 2020, they experienced alcohol-related deaths at disproportionately high rates (IHS).

Resources:

• Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Health Services
• Financial assistance and services for Native Americans from the Bureau of Indian Affairs
• SERACC CT Article: Shedding Light on Two Spirit Mental Health
• StrongHearts Native Helpline for domestic, dating, and sexual violence 
  • Call or text 844-762-8483
• Inclusive Therapists Directory
• White Bison Wellbriety Movement

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a campaign that began in 1985 as a partnership between the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical company Imperial Chemical Industries to increase awareness of the disease and promote early detection. Over time, it has grown into a nationwide movement featuring pink ribbons, fundraising efforts, and community education. While the focus is often on screening and treatment, it’s equally important to recognize the behavioral health impacts of a diagnosis, both for patients and their families.

Many patients experience anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress during and after treatment. Family members and caregivers can also experience grief, stress, and emotional strain as they navigate their loved one’s diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Importantly, breast cancer does not only affect women. People of all genders can be diagnosed, though men and transgender individuals are often underrepresented in awareness campaigns and may face additional barriers to support.

Understanding these risks is critical for clinicians and support networks to provide holistic care that addresses both mental and physical well-being. In Connecticut, breast cancer remains a significant concern, with roughly 143 new cases per 100,000 women annually and an ongoing need for both medical and mental health support.

Resources

• Connecticut Breast Health Initiative
• Connecticut Early Detection and Prevention Program, providing free screenings for people in certain financial and insurance situations 
• Breastcancer.org Guide to Locating Mental Health Services
• CDC Training Simulation: Improving Mental Health Care for People with Cancer
• Young Survival Coalition, an international group providing support for women who were diagnosed before the age of 40 
• Cancer Support Community
• Here for the Girls, a nonprofit dedicated to support women under 50 in their breast cancer journey
• Breastcancer.org Breast Cancer Guide for the LGBTQ+ Community

What's Happening at The Consortium

The Consortium is buzzing with activity! Get a sneak peek of our upcoming Winter Catalog and new trainings, explore a recap of recent conferences, check out the latest on our taskforce work with DPH, and gain insights from past trainings. 

Conferences 
We attended the Association for Justice-Involved Females and Organizations (AJFO) 21^st Biennial Conference Transforming Together: Connection, Compassion, and Change held in downtown Cincinnati. The conference is dedicated to fostering community and advancing knowledge on effective approaches for supporting women and girls in the criminal justice system.

The Consortium was a proud exhibitor, sharing our private training offerings, opportunities for up-and-coming trainers, and the On-Demand catalog, which carries nationally approved CECs. Our Executive Director and Board President made meaningful connections and furthered our reach nationally! 

On September 19th, in partnership with the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), The Consortium hosted the Trends in Trauma Treatment Conference, where keynote speakers Dr. Stephanie Covington and Dr. Kenneth V. Hardy led a day of training on the history, current practice, and future of trauma treatment. The event opened with remarks from Representative Jillian Gilchrest, MSW, a leader in the state legislature on women’s health and safety.

Dr. Covington spoke on the evolution of trauma services, including her groundbreaking work on trauma and gender, while DMHAS CEOs Sarah Gadsby, LCSW, and Deb Lawrence, MA, LPC, discussed the implementation of trauma-informed, gender-responsive practices in the DMHAS system today. Dr. Hardy closed with a deeply personal and thought-provoking session on sociopolitical trauma through an intersectional lens. Attendees left with both practical recommendations for improving trauma treatment and a renewed sense of the importance of trauma-informed spaces and practices.

Winter Catalog
Our winter catalog, encompassing offerings from January to March, is in development and scheduled to drop on November 17th. 

The catalog introduces some unique new trainings and brings back some participant favorites, including...

• Understanding the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community: Inclusive Practices for Equitable Support 
• Serving Those Who Serve
• Polyvagal-Informed Trauma Recovery
• Sex and Porn Addiction: Clinical Competency and Partner-Sensitive Care
• Resilience Rising: Working with EMS and Firefighting Professionals
• The Impact of Language: Addressing Racial Discrimination Through Communication 
• Supervising Staff Using a Trauma-Informed Approach
• Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking