Survey calls for tackling rising digital addiction, mental health problems, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• The Economic Survey 2025-26 flagged rising digital addiction and screen-related mental health problems, especially among children.
• Recommended interventions include cyber-safety education, peer-mentor programmes, and parental training on screen-time management.
• The survey suggests expanding the Tele-MANAS programme to address digital addiction and integrate it with educational institutions.
• India has significantly reduced its maternal mortality rate (MMR) by 86% since 1990, exceeding the global average.
• The infant mortality rate (IMR) declined from 40 deaths per thousand live births in 2013 to 25 in 2023.

Detailed Insights:

• The survey emphasizes technology-enabled public health surveillance and sustained investment in preventive care for a healthier workforce.
• Proposed network-level safeguards include differentiated data plans and default blocking of high-risk content.
• The Tele-MANAS programme aims to normalize help-seeking behavior and enable early intervention for mental health at scale.
• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated screen dependence, leading to increased digital addiction and related health issues.
• Lifestyle diseases are aggravated by excessive screen time, necessitating preventive strategies like exercise and stress management.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Digital Addiction: Compulsive overuse of digital devices and online platforms, leading to negative consequences.
• Tele-MANAS: A national tele-mental health programme providing counseling and support services.
• Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR): The number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.