Objective

Screen addiction is considered a public health problem. It negatively impacts physical, mental, and social health at all ages. As a mobile crisis team for children, adolescents, and young adults (CAYA), we have explored the influence of screens as a precipitating and perpetuating etiological factor of crises or accompanying symptoms.

The aim of this study was to determine the percentage of CAYA patients treated by a mobile crisis team who suffer from screen-related problems (SRP). In searching for family factors that influence this association, we hypothesized a link between SRPs and two family characteristics: belonging to a single-parent family and having a parent with a psychiatric disorder. Finally, we assessed the relationship between problematic screen use and dropping out of school.

Method

We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study of all CAYA patients who began receiving care from a mobile crisis team in 2022. We collected demographic and clinical data from electronic clinical records. Our main focus was on measuring the relationship between patients and the virtual world, family circumstances related to parenthood, and the school dropout rate.

Results

In 2022, a total of 148 patients were treated by the mobile crisis team of the Hainaut province in Belgium. The median age of the patients was 14, ranging from 3 to 19 years old. According to a binary classification based on birth sex, 59.5% of patients were female. In 128 patients (86.5%), screen use was discussed as part of the treatment. For the remaining 20 patients, the subject of screen use was not brought up spontaneously, but the professionals noted excessive screen use in two patients. This subject is now systematically discussed by professionals. In 95 out of 148 cases (64.2%), professionals deemed the young person’s screen use problematic. Professionals felt that screen use was an obstacle to resolving the crisis in 63 out of 128 patients (49.2%). Of those patients, 57% were female, and 88.4% were adolescents (aged 12-18), with 61% of girls. The percentage of patients from single-parent families was similar between the group of SRP patients and the total group. Of the families interviewed, 96 (64.7%) had at least one parent and/or guardian with a confirmed or suspected psychiatric disorder, and 70 (73.7%) parents and/or guardians of SRP patients had a confirmed or suspected psychiatric disorder, including 53 (75.7%) confirmed cases and 17 (24.2%) suspected cases identified by the team’s professional. Among the 95 SRP patients, 36% were completely out of school, 32.5% were partially out of school, and 31.5% were in school.

Conclusions

In CAYA patients, there was a strong association between problematic screen use and mental health problems requiring crisis outpatient treatment. A significant number of SRP patients had a parent who suffered or appeared to suffer from a psychiatric disorder. While this association does not provide evidence of causality, it does highlight the well-established connection between family environment and excessive screen use. SRPs were identified as barriers to crisis resolution in a high percentage of cases, and a majority of SRP patients had dropped out of school. These findings highlight the need for managing excessive screen use among CAYA patients presenting to mobile teams in crisis situations. They underscore the necessity of further studying this health issue to provide these patients with the care they need.

During the roundtable discussion held as part of the “Health in Brussels 2050” symposium, experts in health and architecture explored the socio-spatial conditions necessary for an alliance between cure and care. The discussion revealed that the organization of our living spaces, which is focused on efficiency and profitability, inadequately addresses the needs of vulnerable populations, including the elderly, children, the ill, and racialized groups. These generic spaces exacerbate inequalities and limit access to appropriate care, especially regarding housing, which is crucial for health.

The participants identified three levels of action: urban planning, housing, and intermediate spaces. Initiatives such as Maison Biloba and Pass-ages demonstrate the importance of designing inclusive housings that foster social connections and shared governance. These innovative projects place dignity, autonomy, and human needs at the center of care spaces.

Finally, the current crises—housing, environment, and care—call for a rethinking of urban policies. In response to overmedicalization, participants advocated for holistic approaches to urban and architectural planning that prioritize individuals and their vulnerabilities. Therefore, a profound transformation of social paradigms is necessary to reconcile care and spatial justice.

Healthcare professions, the cornerstone of our health system, are facing growing challenges due to demographic shifts, cultural diversity, and technological advances. This article explores four key avenues for redefining caregiving practices in Brussels by the year 2050: (1) multidisciplinary, patient-centered approach; (2) cultural adaptation of practices; (3) strategic integration of artificial intelligence; (4) enhancement of healthcare professionals’ roles to restore meaning to the profession. These proposals aim to combine technological innovation with humaneness to ensure sustainable care, meet patients’ expectations, and improve the well-being of healthcare professionals