TRAUMA SURGERY AND ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN AFRICA: PATTERNS, CHALLENGES, AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE INNOVATIONS

The surge in digital connectivity across Ghana has created an urgent mental health dilemma among its youth, as prolonged social media exposure increasingly correlates with emotional and psychological distress. This study was undertaken to examine how excessive screen use, online harassment, and negative self-comparison impact mental health outcomes-specifically depression, anxiety, cognitive overload, and sleep disturbances-while considering the moderating role of socioeconomic status. The study’s importance lies in addressing a growing public health challenge fueled by technological advancement without adequate regulatory or educational countermeasures. Using a quantitative research design and secondary data from 105 validated respondents, statistical tools such as correlation and regression analyses were applied. Findings demonstrated that excessive use had the highest correlation with poor mental health (r = 0.712, β = 0.491), followed by online harassment (r = 0.683, β = 0.463) and negative comparison (r = 0.648, β = 0.429), with an overall correlation coefficient of 0.83 and R² of 0.69. Socioeconomic status moderated the relationship negatively (β = -0.377), showing its buffering potential. These results underscore the need for integrated digital wellness policies, educational reforms, and AI-driven mental health surveillance systems. It is recommended that Ghana’s education and health sectors collaborate to embed digital hygiene in school curricula, expand rural mental health access, and regulate social media usage patterns through public policy.