Layla is a mental health service that facilitates therapy for individuals, couples and families. Layla works to bridge the gap between those who want mental health care and those who provide it by helping people to find the right therapist for them based on specialization, convenience and interpersonal fit. We talk to our friends about shared interests, hobbies, schools, work, relationships —all sorts of things! And yet for a lot of people broaching the topic of mental health can be difficult even with very close friends. For someone struggling with their mental health, having the support of friends is so important, but it can feel scary or even plain awkward to open up.

There's something all of us remember about the year 2008. It was the year that Apple launched the first ever App Store for its iPhone 3G, forever changing the way we use our phones. It was the same year that GPS capabilities became a feature of these early smartphones, establishing what would become the everyday experience of ordering an Uber to finding our way around a new city. And it was during this year when Facebook was only a toddler, and product designers were tinkering away at what would soon be known as the Like button. Though the economy may not have been doing so well, 2008 was certainly a golden year for innovation.

Implementing new technology in your course comes with an inevitable learning curve. Not only does it mean you'll have to familiarize yourself with new software, but your students will too. Although this can feel intimidating, there are ways to ensure that you and your students have a smooth and successful experience. 

This article explores my interview with Dr. Brandon Whittington from Jefferson College, as we discussed his research paper, Benefits of a Voluntary Cell Phone Abstinence Intervention in General Psychology Courses, published in the Teaching of Psychology journal.

Gen-z students may be digital natives, but that doesn't mean they'll immediately understand or know how to use a new app, software, or other technology that you're introducing to your class. In fact, our research has found that fewer than 10% of students will correctly troubleshoot technical support needs they experience. 

A recent addiction study found that an “uncontrollable need” to use smartphones is on the rise among young people. Out of 3000 adults surveyed, one fifth of those aged 18–29 showed signs of “moderate to severe problematic use” of their devices, compared with only 2.2 percent of those over the age of 30.