Life online is a choking, oppressive smog. Teenagers need a place they can breathe | Emma Beddington

A new study shows more than half of teens spend their free time in their bedroom. But we are offering them nothing away from their screens

On the rack of magazines by the supermarket tills, I'm always brought up short by Teen Breathe magazine. Don't get me wrong, it looks great - well-designed and full of positive, interesting features. But I'm always momentarily incredulous: teenagers need to be reminded to breathe, spend time in nature, journal or mindfully colour mandalas? How did we get here - shouldn't they be getting their heads stuck in swings or setting fire to bins?

It's stupid, because of course teenagers need all the help they can get. We are, as a data-heavy transatlantic dossier in the Financial Times explored recently, in a teen mental health crisis. The report highlighted a marked rise in depressive symptoms, worry, negative feelings about life and poor self-image. Meanwhile, a UK report last week showed a 22% increase in self-harm hospital admissions in 8- to 17-year-olds.