Psychologist Jordi Royo links screen overuse to rising adolescent depression in Andorra

Recent data show that 16% of young people aged 13 to 18 in Andorra present moderate or severe symptoms of depression, while 10% report suicidal thoughts, according to the 2024 children's observatory. Jordi Royo, a clinical psychologist specialising in behavioural disorders and dual pathology in children and adolescents, and co-founder and clinical director of Amalgama7, highlighted the figures at a workshop on adolescent depression.

Speaking at the session Una mena d'estat d'ànim anomenat depressió (A kind of mood called depression), organised by Creand Fundació with the collaboration of the Escola de Famílies de l'Ampaea, Royo questioned why depression appears so prevalent in wealthy societies. He noted that young people in the developed world generally have good schools and structured leisure activities, yet many still fall ill, adding that depression seems more closely tied to discomfort than to wellbeing.

According to Royo, several factors explain the rise in adolescent depression, and he focused particularly on what he called "el pantallisme" — excessive screen use. He argued that screens and depression share many common features. Spending many hours in front of a screen, or misusing it, can lead young people to encounter images that appear to border on perfection; comparing themselves with others they perceive as happier can, in turn, generate depression. Many young people who feel depressed also use screens as a refuge, he added, noting that connecting can seem like the only thing that helps them.

Royo stressed that depression has always existed, but what has changed is the proportion of young people affected. He also pointed out that more girls than boys are affected.

Asked what symptoms should alert parents and teachers, he listed sleeping too much or too little, loss of appetite, lack of motivation and irritability — reacting badly for no apparent reason — as signs that something is wrong.

For parents, Royo's advice centred on how to hold a conversation with a young person who may be showing depressive symptoms. The key, he said, is to listen more than to talk, warning that dismissive responses can push a child further into distress. The aim is for the young person to feel their parents close by, which he described as a matter of presence rather than words. Parents should have the humility to listen without rushing to offer ready-made answers or formulas, he concluded.