Below letter was authored by pediatric occupational therapist Cris Rowan and emailed to all Canadian Health Ministers and British Columbia Health Authorities on July 28, ‘25
I’m a pediatric occupational therapist, biologist, author and international speaker passionate about changing the ways in which humans interact with screen-based technologies. In my OT work in school and clinic settings, I am continually surprised at teacher and clinician lack of knowledge regarding screen impact research. ‘Screening for Screens’ should be a mandatory procedure for all teachers and clinicians, as well as provision of screen management education. No matter what age, people who overuse screens are largely sedentary, isolated, overstimulated and neglected contributing to the nation-wide rise in physical impairment and mental illness which includes growing incidence of screen addiction. In the history of humankind, we have never witnessed children with addictions. Rising health care costs associated with treating undetected screen overuse disorders, indicates that mass public education is warranted.
Children are presently using 4-5 times the CPS recommended amount of screentime resulting in significant impairment to health and wellbeing. Children are sedentary and unfit with 1 in 3 developmentally delayed, 1 in 3 obese or overweightand 1 in 4 sleep deprived. Less that 6 hours of sleep per night is associated with increased incidence of cancer, heart attack, stroke and death. Screens are overstimulating to eyes, heart and brain causing visual impairment, cardiovascular damage, impaired brain development and attention deficit. Screen use is isolating humans from what they yearn for most, love and connection resulting in soaring rates of anxiety, depression, addiction and suicide. Currently in Canada, 1 in 5 children and youth have a diagnosed mental illness. As absenteeism rises and employee productivity declines in the workplace, the GDP plumets. The need for health governments to act to educate the public regarding screen overuse and management has never been more imperative than now.
For the past 35 years I’ve witnessed declining health and wellbeing across the age span in homes, schools, clinic and workplace settings. In the early 2000’s, I dove into the research on screen impact which I collated into a topically organized Fact Sheet which today contains over 600 research referenced articles. This research became foundational for my book Virtual Child, blog Moving to Learn and over 450 national and international presentations, all available on my website Reconnect Webinars. To fast track public education, I’ve created the Balanced Technology Management (BTM) 3-day CEU certification course which provides research-based tools and techniques to bring teachers and clinicians up to date on assessment and treatment of screen overuse.
I am available as a screen management consultant to work together with health authorities to determine a variety of immediate and feasible courses of action, but suggest we start with teacher and clinician training.
Please contact me at crowan@reconnectwebinars.com or 604-740-2264 to start a discussion.
