Psychotherapist and former footballer Richie Sadlier has voiced significant concerns regarding the future of young people, stating that their education on relationships, intimacy, and sexuality is being outsourced to online pornography and social media.
Sadlier, who is involved in Chadwicks' third annual How’s The Head? campaign promoting mental well-being among tradespeople, highlighted the simplicity of the campaign's message: encouraging brief conversations over a cup of tea. He contrasted this with the complex, often costly, solutions people sometimes propose for mental health issues.
"The solutions people propose often cost money, or they’re not available to everyone, or you need loads of time or space in your personal life," Sadlier explained. "It’s basically just reaching out to somebody and having an actual chat."
He observed that while conversations about mental health are becoming more common, a segment of the male population still does not prioritize their mental well-being with the same urgency as physical health. Sadlier, who has a background in adolescent psychotherapy, has been developing an online platform to assist teachers in delivering the new senior cycle SPHE curriculum, which becomes mandatory for fifth and sixth-year students in September 2027.
This initiative stems from his work with young people and his recognition of how dramatically childhood has changed. "We’re outsourcing their education on relationships, intimacy and sexuality to online porn and social media," Sadlier stated starkly. "Neither of which has the welfare of children as their priority."
Sadlier argues against blaming teenagers for behaviors influenced by these platforms. He believes that giving children unfiltered internet access from a young age, which consequently exposes them to unfiltered online content, is a significant factor. "Our job now is to push back," he urged. "It’s so dangerous and so harmful to give smartphones to children thinking it won’t damage them, it’s complete lunacy to think that."
He suggested that instead of assigning blame to parents, teachers, or society, the focus should be on continuing conversations to increase awareness and support young people in navigating the world they are actually growing up in, which differs significantly from previous generations.
Sadlier emphasized that educational programs like SPHE offer an opportunity for "corrective education" about sex and relationships, guiding the next generation on what truly matters. He pointed out that by the time teenagers are exposed to sex education, they may have already encountered explicit online content for years, often without the context that it depicts actors in an industry focused on views and clicks, rather than realistic depictions of intimacy.
When asked about the happiness of Irish youth, Sadlier's response was somber, referencing research that indicates a steady decline in rates of depression, anxiety, life satisfaction, joy, and happiness. He connected this trend to the impact of prolonged daily engagement with screens, especially for hours alone in bedrooms. Sadlier reiterated that the fundamental issue is the lack of simple human connection through actual conversation, contrasting it with engaging with a device rather than a person.
He also highlighted the negative impact of big tech and social media companies on young people's well-being, development, self-esteem, body image, relationship expectations, and behavior. Sadlier concluded by expressing his support for young people, stating that their actions are often a direct result of decisions not made by the adults in their lives. He believes there is a significant opportunity to enact meaningful changes for their benefit.
As part of the How’s The Head campaign, Chadwicks encourages tradespeople to take a brief break for conversation. For mental health support, Aware offers free education, telephone, and group services. More information on the Chadwicks How’s The Head? campaign is available on chadwicksgroup.ie.