NIMHANS holds consultation on responsible digital use among students

The State Health and Education Departments, in collaboration with the Karnataka State Mental Health Authority (KSMHA) and NIMHANS, held a State-level consultative meeting on October 16 to frame policies and programmes promoting responsible digital use among students.

Participants in the meeting, held in the NIMHANS campus in Bengaluru, discussed patterns of technology overuse among students, and explored preventive and promotive measures to encourage healthy and ethical technology use.

Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, who inaugurated the event, stressed that excessive screen time adversely affects students’ physical and mental health. He called for identifying early warning signs of technology overuse, and formulating feasible regulatory and preventive measures.

NIMHANS Director Pratima Murthy said the rapid growth of technology had heightened mental health concerns among students. She emphasised the importance of involving parents, teachers, and students in policy development for responsible digital engagement.

The event was coordinated by Manoj Kumar Sharma, Professor of Clinical Psychology and Head of the Service for Healthy Use of Technology (SHUT) Clinic.

Nitin Anand, Additional Professor of Clinical Psychology, presented an overview of the patterns and risk factors linked to technology overuse and its implications for students’ well-being.

Rajani Parthasarathy, State Deputy Director (Mental Health), called for a school digital use policy, formation of digital safety and wellness committees, and mandatory awareness programmes for teachers, parents, and students.

Experts from NIMHANS, the Health and Education Departments, NGOs, and other stakeholders participated in panel discussions and brainstorming sessions that highlighted the need for age-wise guidelines, cyber literacy programmes, and multi-pronged awareness initiatives.