Bhopal: The tendency to manufacture or “hassize” artificial intelligence or AI's “hassilence” content has sparked new concerns among mental health professionals about its impact on cognition, originality and trust.Speaking at the National Institute of Mental Health (Nimhan) Bengaluru, Dr. Pratima Mercy, Bhopal's national consultation on adolescent mental health, warned that excessive use of generative tools can blunt creative thinking and reduce important involvement.She recalls the AI-generated text, stating that “the ability to construct things on the go is extremely dangerous,” and highlights the need for fact-checking and careful scrutiny of the output. The ethical dimension is just as imminent. “People are talking about ethics in this field,” Dr. Mercy said it encourages the development of a responsible framework for interaction with AI, taking into account the moral complexity of digital systems.Adding another layer, Dr. Mercy highlighted the increasingly surreal quality of the visuals generated by AI. She highlighted her anxiety about how artificial content blurs the boundaries between reality and manufacturing, and prompted questions about its psychological and social consequences.To explain the decline in creative value, she cited her experiences.Generic AI is rapidly woven into the structure of thought and communication, so mental health experts are seeking deeper investigations before obscuring the discernment of dependency.Expanded Peer Support Training for Adolescent Mental Health: In collaboration with UNICEF and Nimhan, the Ministry of Family Welfare has launched “I Support My Friends,” an add-on training module under the RKSK program. It is designed to help adolescents recognize emotional distress, provide support, and support their peers. Modules promote empathy and resilience using appearance, listening, linking frameworks and interactive tools.During the national consultation, Dr. Pratima Murthy, MP Deputy CM and Health Minister Rajendra Shukla and Unicef experts highlighted the importance of youth-led mental health support and early intervention. The session highlighted the rising challenges such as anxiety, depression, digital addiction, and academic stress, as well as the urgent need to build safe spaces and reduce stigma.The launch marks a step towards a more inclusive, community-based mental health system focused on prevention and empowerment, officials said.“We need to know where the end of use and addiction begins”: Nimhans, Bengaluru, Dr. Pratima Mercy raised a clear warning about the blurred line between use of technology and dependence.Excessive screen exposure can reduce attention, damage memory and worsen underlying mental health. Addressing the challenges in adjusting screen time, she noted that “we don't know where the use ends and the addiction will begin.”Emphasizing the cognitive risks associated with excessive exposure to digital tools, Dr. Mercy noted an increase in cases of reduced attention span, memory problems, and reduced creative involvement. She cited Nimhans's Shutt Clinic experience treating adolescents facing challenges related to obsessive screen use and behavioral addiction.Key Challenges and Insights: Mental Health Experts present a clear picture of the problems facing young people across Madhya Pradesh and across India. The focus is on reaching different groups, using technology as a tool and challenge, and addressing deeper social and structural barriers. Their approach combines real-world data with terrestrial experiences to provide a balanced response.A multistakeholder approach to adolescent mental health emphasizes community-based and school-based interventions, framing mental health as a concern for social development as well as health issues.Madhya Pradesh's state-level initiatives such as Telemanas and Umang Programmes demonstrate the government's commitment to prioritizing mental health along with education and employment, particularly for young people facing unique challenges. The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences' Closed Clinic serves as a specialized centre for addressing technology-related behavioral issues, highlighting the dual nature of technologies that are beneficial and harmful to mental health.
