Social media (SM) and the Internet have forever transformed human connection, communication, and interaction, and have emerged as powerful, yet controversial, sources of both substantial challenges and exciting opportunities to healthy emotional development. This is especially true for adolescents and young adults, who are among the highest utilizers of online resources and at the greatest risk for the emergence of a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD).   

Despite the established benefit of early intervention (EI) for youth with SSD, and the implementation of evidence-based EI programs throughout the US, several challenges persist including lengthy duration of untreated illness, poor engagement with services, high rates of relapse, and persistent social isolation and withdrawal. There is mounting evidence to suggest that these challenges can be addressed through online resources. However, despite enormous promise, online services have a number of problems yet to be solved.  

This webinar aims to explore the complex relationship between SM, the Internet and early psychosis intervention and to cultivate a unified approach to researching and implementing these ubiquitous resources into clinical care . The technological ecosystem, and available literature, surrounding SM types, online platform affordances, adoption norms and their impact on health is rapidly evolving. Clearly defining the risks and benefits of SM use and Internet activity in youth with SSD would revolutionize our ability to effectively support them, as well as their allies, throughout the course of illness development and treatment. 

Format

Recorded webinar, non-interactive, self-paced distance learning activity with post-test.

This presentation was recorded on December 1, 2022.

Learning Objectives

• List at least three common risks and benefits related to mental health in using social media. 
• Identify at least two emerging strategies to leverage the Internet and SM to improve early identification and intervention.  
• Apply at least two different treatment strategies to incorporate social media activity into clinical care in a safe manner. 

Outline

• Social media, the internet, and early intervention today 
• The benefits  
• The risk  
• The future   
• Incorporating into care  
• Attendee Q&A 

Target Audience

Counselor, Peer Specialist/Peer Support, Physician Assistant, Psychologist, Social Worker, Psychiatrist 

Instructional Level

Intermediate

Estimate Time to Complete

Estimated Duration: 1.0 hour
Program Start Date: December 8, 2022
Program End Date: December 8, 2025

Interdisciplinary Discussion Board

After completing the course, engage with colleagues in the mental health field through SMI Adviser's Webinar Roundtable Topics discussion board. This is an easy way to network and share ideas with other clinicians who participate in this webinar. Access through the discussion tab.

How to Earn Credit

Participants who wish to earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, CE credit for psychologists, CE credit for social workers, or a certificate of participation may do so by viewing the live presentation and completing the evaluation. Participants claiming CE credit for psychologists and those claiming CE credit for social workers, must have full attendance to claim credit. After evaluating the program, course participants will be provided with an opportunity to claim hours of participation and print an official CME certificate (physicians), CE certificate (psychologists), CE certificate (social workers) or certificate of participation (other disciplines) showing the event date and hours earned.

Continuing Education Credit

Physicians

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The APA designates this live event for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Psychologists

The American Psychiatric Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. American Psychiatric Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Social Workers

American Psychiatric Association, provider #1743, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. American Psychiatric Association maintains responsibility for this course.  

ACE provider approval period: 05/18/2021 - 05/18/2024. Social workers completing this course receive 1.0 continuing education credits. 

Continuing education requirements vary from state to state. Many state boards grant reciprocity with national accrediting organizations and other state boards. It is the responsibility of each professional to understand the requirements for license renewal or check with the state or national licensing board and/or professional organization to become more familiar with their policies for acceptable continuing education credit. Social workers and Psychologists should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval.

Faculty and Planner Disclosures

The American Psychiatric Association adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity — including faculty, planners, reviewers or others — are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity. 

Instructor

• Michael Birnbaum, MD, is an attending physician in the Department of Psychiatry at Zucker Hillside Hospital in New York. He works as the program director for Northwell Health’s Early Treatment Program (ETP), a clinical and research initiative for adolescents and young adults in the early stages of psychosis. Dr. Birnbaum’s research has focused primarily on psychotic disorders with an emphasis on the early stages of illness. He is currently exploring the role of social media and the internet in pathways to care for adolescents and young adults with psychotic disorders. Additionally, Dr. Birnbaum is exploring the utility of social media and the internet as a vehicle for timely identification, outreach, engagement and care of youth with mental illness. Dr. Birnbaum discloses financial relationships with the HearMe App and NorthShore Therapeutics  

Planners

• Teri Brister, PhD, LPC, National Alliance on Mental Illness. Dr. Brister has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.  
• Amy Cohen, PhD, American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Cohen has no relevant financial relationships to disclose. 
• John Torous, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Torous has no relevant financial relationships to disclose. 
• Sherin Khan, LCSW, Thresholds. Ms. Khan has no relevant financial relationships to disclose. 

Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities

The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. If you have trouble accessing any of APA’s online resources, please contact us at 202-559-3900 for assistance.

Technical Requirements

This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following:

• The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari
• Internet Explorer 11+

This website requires that JavaScript and session cookies be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be:  Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player.

Optimal System Configuration:

• Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version)
• Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version)
• Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher

Minimum Requirements:

• Windows PC: Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
• Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher with latest updates installed; Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor; 512 MB or higher RAM; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content

For assistance: Contact educme@psych.org for questions about this activity | Contact SMIadviserhelp@psych.org for technical assistance