- The conference, on the critical theme “Social Media and Adolescents’ Mental Health,” witnessed active participation from over 500 professionals, scholars, and practitioners across India, Canada, China, the United States, and Nepal, representing 31 states and union territories
- The event emphasizes that digital mental health must be approached not only as a clinical concern but also as a public health imperative and societal responsibility
- The programme was enriched by thought-provoking sessions delivered by leading experts in the mental health domain, including Dr. Yatan Pal Singh Balhara, Professor of Psychiatry, NDDTC & Department of Psychiatry, AIIMS, New Delhi
NE EDUCATION BUREAU
GANDHINAGAR, JUNE 18
The Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), through its School of Behavioural Sciences & Forensic Investigations (SBSFI) successfully organized the One-Day International Online CRE Programme—1st International Digital Mental Health & Wellbeing Conference—on the critical theme “Social Media and Adolescents’ Mental Health.”
The conference witnessed active participation from over 500 professionals, scholars, and practitioners across India, Canada, China, the United States, and Nepal, representing 31 states and union territories. This convergence reaffirmed RRU’s growing global footprint and its commitment to addressing pressing contemporary challenges through academic excellence and collaborative engagement.
In the digital age, where virtual environments significantly influence adolescent identity, relationships, and emotional well-being, the event emphasized that digital mental health must be approached not only as a clinical concern but also as a public health imperative and societal responsibility.
The programme was enriched by thought-provoking sessions delivered by leading experts in the mental health domain, including Dr. Yatan Pal Singh Balhara, Professor of Psychiatry, NDDTC & Department of Psychiatry, AIIMS, New Delhi; Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma, Professor of Clinical Psychology, NIMHANS, Bangalore; Dr. Nitin Anand, Additional Professor of Clinical Psychology, NIMHANS, Bangalore; Dr. Suraj Shakya, Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Nepal.
These distinguished speakers offered deep insights into the impact of social media on adolescent wellbeing, the risk and severity of digital addiction, and evidence-based strategies for mental health promotion and prevention in the digital space.
Under the visionary leadership of Honourable Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Bimal N. Patel, the conference underscored RRU’s proactive commitment to integrating mental health into national security education and promoting resilient societies. The event concluded with a collective appeal to adopt collaborative, evidence-driven and SDG-aligned interventions to ensure that adolescents flourish both digitally and emotionally.
This initiative aligns with RRU’s forward-looking vision to emerge as a global center of excellence in behavioural sciences, national resilience, and strategic education. The university remains dedicated to organizing high-impact academic and capacity-building programmes that foster innovation, policy research, and inclusive wellbeing.
