Mount Saint Mary College’s Center for Adolescent Research and Development (CARD) recently presented “Contemporary Adolescence and Mental Health: Routes Reaching Today into Tomorrow,” featuring keynote speaker James Daley and a panel of local educators and health experts.
Daley discussed ADHD, autism, and how these topics are approached on social media. His interest is personal, he noted, stemming from his own ADHD diagnosis in the mid-90s.
When his daughter received a similar diagnosis, Daley started taking note of ADHD-related content on TikTok. The quality of the information on the platform varied wildly, with some significant inaccuracies and misleading content. For example, when browsing the hashtag #ADHDtest, one study found that 92 percent had at least one misleading thing in the video.
But that doesn’t mean that social media like TikTok can’t be a useful tool for teens with ADHD or autism. With social media so ingrained in modern life, the focus should be on how to engage with it constructively, Daley said.
When navigated carefully, he noted, benefits for adolescents with ADHD or autism can include:
- Connection and validation: Fostering community for isolated individuals.
- Open discussion: Creating avenues to discuss mental health topics.
- Education: Offering access to information, coping strategies, and therapeutic options from peers and professionals.
- Creative self-expression: Providing an outlet for expressing emotions in a healthy manner.
- Empowerment and identity: Helping individuals find words for their experiences and embrace terms like “neurodivergent.”
Daley is a writer, editor, and educator with a background in book publishing and online content creation. As the Creative Director for LearningWorks for Kids, he led innovative projects that blended video games, digital media, and interactive learning to teach executive functioning skills and support children’s cognitive and emotional growth. His published works, including Jesus Jackson, The Science of Fortnite, and The Science of Minecraft, combine engaging storytelling with educational insights for young adult audiences. Alongside his writing career, James has more than 15 years of experience teaching courses on writing, video games, and digital literacy.
After Daley’s talk, the audience heard from a panel of local mental health experts and educators, including Allyson Antonacci of Dutchess County Outpatient Mental Health; Andrew O’Grady, LCSW-R, CEO of Mental Health America of Dutchess County; Sean Gerow, MS, Associate Executive Director of Orange County Mental Health Association; Stevenson Monchery, a youth outreach specialist; and Rachel Wilson, Executive Director, Orange County Youth Bureau, among others.
The Mount’s CARD is a clearinghouse for research initiatives. These include the psychological, social, cultural, educational, and health-related issues endemic to contemporary adolescents and young adults. It’s overseen by longtime Psychology Professor Paul Schwartz.