‘Youth need to step outside and disconnect’ – Provincial in call to tackle social media addiction

The Provincial of the Hospitaller Order of St John of God has warned that young people risk becoming trapped in a new form of addiction— not to alcohol or drugs, but to the glowing screens in their hands.

The St John of God University Hospital in Stillorgan has already seen the toll firsthand. Its 28-day detox programme for ‘Internet Use Disorder’ provides intensive treatment for those struggling to break free from screens. For adolescents, the hospital runs the ‘Ginesa Adolescent Suite’, a service tailored to 12–18-year-olds grappling with mental health challenges linked to excessive online use.

Bro. Donatus Forkan told The Irish Catholic that the constant pull of social media can create serious mental health issues and behavioural disorders. “You can be on the phone 100 times a day,” he said. “It can become really addictive.”

Unlike traditional addictions, online dependency may look harmless—but beneath the scrolling lies something more damaging. “There’s information being shared,” Bro. Forkan explained, “but not really relationships being built.” For him, this hollow form of connection distances people from the real world.

Bro. Forkan is not advocating for a total blackout on technology. “Sharing moments or looking at other people’s moments can be a big laugh,” he admitted. “But it’s not really deep, it’s not real.” What matters, he said, is balance—and rediscovering joy in real-world connections.

“We encourage people to go for a walk, play tennis, play golf or football. Young families should bring their children to sports activities,” he urged. For those who aren’t sporty, he insists Ireland itself offers the cure: “Get out into those walks we have, the Wild Atlantic Way, our rich history. There’s a connection in that.”

Quoting Pope Francis’ vision of caring for “Mother Earth,” Bro. Forkan reminded people of the healing power of nature. “It’s a very healthy thing to be connected with your environment and to enjoy a flower, a tree, a sunset, a waterfall… This is very important to our physical and mental health.”

For the Provincial, the message is simple: turn off the screen, step outside, and let real life in.