Switch off to tune in this February as we mark Children’s Mental Health Week with a Digital Detox challenge.
Children’s Mental Health Week takes place from 9-15 February this year. Throughout the month, we’re encouraging schools and families to give up non-essential screen time. Not as a punishment, but as a way to recharge and reconnect.
Think of it as a mini-holiday from your devices. A digital detox just means intentionally reducing or pausing screen use to give your mind a breather. That might include smartphones, tablets, computers, consoles, and social media.
Phones and social media can be fun, helpful and are part of everyday life. But now more than ever, it’s important to pay attention to our digital habits and how that affects our wellbeing.
A 2023 survey showed that 45.2% of 16-year-olds in NI have probable mental ill-health. It also found that the wellbeing of 11-year-olds was at its lowest level since 2016. Getting positive comments on social media and safety online were among the causes of stress and worry noted by young people1.
Reducing screen time helps break cycles of comparison, overstimulation, and constant alerts that can contribute to stress and low mood. In their place, you create space for healthier habits which nurture your wellbeing.
Stepping away from constant alerts and social feeds gives your mind a well-deserved rest, easing overload and helping restore balance.
Your brain encourages the production of a chemical called melatonin when it’s tired. The bright light behind your mobile phone screen keeps the brain alert, decreasing levels of this chemical and making it harder for you to fall asleep. So no screens means better sleep!
Learning new things, getting active, or connecting with others are all ways you can practise the 5 steps to wellbeing. So whether it’s relaxing with a book, playing sport, or going for coffee with a friend – less scrolling means more time for things that truly nourish wellbeing.
Being sponsored for your Digital Detox efforts is a fantastic way to raise vital funds for Action Mental Health. You’ll be helping us to support children, young people and adults with our mental health services across Northern Ireland.
Make the challenge work for you this February. It could mean a detox day, no social media for a week or more! Our free fundraising pack is full of ideas to help you get started – all you need to do is register.
Get creative, get sponsored, and get ready to notice the difference. Even tiny changes can make a big impact.
For more information on Children’s Mental Health Week 2026, check out our resource library.
1 Mental Health Champion. ‘Factors Affecting Mental Health and Wellbeing in Children and Young People in Northern Ireland’. 25 August 2023.
