About:

Blessed Mother Family Foundation​

Following the tragic suicide of 14-year-old Sewell, his ​mother, her family and friends set up a charitable ​foundation in Sewell’s memory.

The mission of the Blessed Mother Family Foundation ​is bring awareness to the dangers of addiction to online ​platforms and AI chatbot for children and to educate ​ parents and the community on regulation and ​protection of online spaces for children.

We are dedicated to reaching those at risk of suicide ​and their families to educate and connect them with ​resources to prevent suicide.

WHAT WE DO

We educate parents about the ​dangers of online addiction and the ​youth mental health crisis as it ​relates to social media use and ​online platforms.

BMFF provides resources to ​families to be able to get help for ​their children who are suffering ​from mental illness and who are at ​risk for suicide due to depression ​caused by online platforms.

One of the main focuses of BMFF ​is to advocate through education ​ about policy in the United States ​ regarding online safety for ​children and teens.

Q & A

What is social Media Harm?

In spring of 2023, United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, ​MBA, released an advisory called Social Media and Youth Mental ​Health, in which he says there is growing evidence that social ​media is causing harm to young people’s mental health. Soon after, ​the American Psychological Association (APA) issued its own health ​advisory. A year later, in June 2024, Dr. Murthy called for a surgeon ​general’s warning label on social media platforms, which would ​require an act of Congress to implement.

The report stresses that the brain is going through a highly ​sensitive period between the ages of 10 and 19, when identities and ​feelings of self-worth are forming. Frequent social media use may ​be associated with distinct changes in the developing brain, ​potentially affecting such functions as emotional learning and ​behavior, impulse control, and emotional regulation.

is Social Media Addicting?

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical ​Association (JAMA) revealed that teens who use social media more ​than three hours per day may be at heightened risk for addiction ​and mental health problems. Since the pandemic, there has been an ​uptick in depression and anxiety among teens, specifically low ​self-esteem, disordered eating, body image issues and suicidal ​thoughts. ​https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/article-​abstract/2749480

"Social media is designed to hook our brains, and teens are ​especially susceptible to its addictiveness.” - Nancy DeAngelis, CRNP, ​Director of Behavioral Health, Jefferson Health - Abington.

When does the kind of content teens see become an issue?

Teens can easily access extreme, inappropriate, and harmful ​content. In certain cases, deaths have been linked to suicide- and ​self-harm-related content, such as “cutting,” partial asphyxiation, ​and risk-taking challenges on social media platforms, according ​to Dr. Murthy’s report. Studies also found that discussing or ​showing this content can normalize these behaviors.

Eating disorders are yet another concern. A review of 50 studies ​across 17 countries between 2016 and 2021 published in PLOS Global ​Public Health suggested that relentless online exposure to ​largely unattainable physical ideals may trigger a distorted ​sense of self and eating disorders. This is considered to be a ​particular problem among girls.

In addition, people who target adolescents—for instance, adults ​seeking to sexually exploit teens or financially extort them ​through the threat or actual distribution of intimate images—​may use social media platforms for these types of predatory ​behaviors, according to the Surgeon General's advisory.

STATISTICS

95% OF YOUNG PEOPLE ​BETWEEN THE AGESOF 13-​17 REPORT USING A SOCIAL ​MEDIA PLATFORM .

46% OF ADOLESCENTS ​AGED 13-17 SAID SOCIAL ​MEDIA MADE THEM FEEL ​WORST ABOUT BODY IMAGE.

64% OF ADOLESCENTS ARE ​ “OFTEN” OR ”SOMETIMES” ​EXPOSED TO HATE-BASED ​CONTENT.

50% OF TEENS ADMIT TO ​FEELING ADDICTED TO ​THEIR MOBILE DEVICES.

THE RATE OF TEEN SUICIDE ​INCREASED MORE THAN ​30% BETWEEN 2007 AND ​2015, WHICH COINCIDES ​WITH SIMILAR INCREASE IN ​RATES OF SOCIAL MEDIA ​USE AMOUNG TEENS.

ADOLESCENTS WHO ​SPEND MORE THAN 5 ​HOURS A DAY ON ​ ELECTRONIC DEVICES ARE ​71% MORE LIKELY TO HAVE ​AT LEAST ONE RISK ​FACTOR OF SUICIDE.

Thank you for your support!

Contacts us

Windermere, florida

Ph: (321) 297 0120

info@blessedmotherfamily.org