Mental health must be maintained in the race of development: Brajesh Pathak, Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh

An 18-year-old youth became so addicted to gaming that he first left his studies at Delhi University and later dropped out of a course in Kota before returning home. When his parents closely observed his daily routine, they discovered that he spent more than 18 hours a day watching and playing games. This digital addiction had nearly ruined his life.

Several interesting issues related to digital addiction were discussed during the two-day “Psycon 2026” conference organized by Nirvan Hospital. Discussions ranged from parent–child relationships to the challenges associated with them. Experts explained how parents often rely on mobile phones from an early age to keep children occupied, stop their mischief, or make them complete daily tasks like eating meals. Gradually, these mobile phones turn into an addiction for children without parents even realizing it.

To avoid such problems, parents need to understand their responsibilities in parenting. Instead of handing over mobile phones to children, they should encourage them to engage in creative activities. The event was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Brajesh Pathak as the chief guest, along with special guest Jai Shankar Mishra, Vice Chancellor of Gurugram University and retired IAS officer. Also present were Dr. H.K. Agrawal (Chairman, Nirvan Hospital), Dr. Deeptanshu Agrawal (Medical Director), Dr. Pranjal Agrawal (Director), and Aastha Sharma, Head of the Clinical Psychology Department and Organizing Secretary of the event.

Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Brajesh Pathak said that about 35 years ago he closely witnessed the beginning of Nirvan’s efforts to rehabilitate youth struggling with substance abuse. Today, counseling systems for children have become extremely necessary. In the fast-paced life of today, while society has achieved significant progress, people are also living under tremendous mental pressure. Therefore, maintaining good mental health is essential. He appreciated programs like this organized by Nirvan.

Experts at the conference also stated that according to a study, young people are using mobile phones for more than 9 hours a day, which is affecting their mental abilities. Parents were advised to ensure digital hygiene for their children just like they ensure physical hygiene.

Several important topics were discussed in simple and engaging ways during the sessions, including:

Neuroplasticity in the Digital Age

The role of new neurotechnologies like rTMS in treating psychological disorders

Is technology making our lives easier or erasing our identity?

Silent judgment and noisy screens: the dilemma of digital parenting

Growing silence amid scrolling: unseen distances in marital relationships

The challenge of managing emotions in the age of technology

Through these sessions, experts tried to explain the growing impact of digital life and technology on mental health and relationships in an easy-to-understand manner.

During Psycon 2026, several senior experts who made notable contributions to the field of mental health were honored. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Prof. (Dr.) T.B. Singh and Prof. (Dr.) Krishna Dutt for their invaluable contributions to psychology. Prof. (Dr.) P.K. Dalal was honored for outstanding work in addiction psychiatry.

Awards were also presented to Dr. H. Naidu for notable work in general psychiatry, and Prof. (Dr.) Prabhat Sithole for contributions to child and adolescent mental health. Dr. R.K. Thakral was honored for excellence in psycho-sexual health and medicine.

Similarly, Prof. (Dr.) S.C. Tiwari was recognized for contributions to geriatric psychiatry, while Dr. Pallavi Bhatnagar received an award for outstanding work in psychotherapy and counseling. Prof. (Dr.) A.K. Agrawal, President of the Richmond Fellowship Society, was honored for his work in rehabilitation. Prof. (Dr.) Ajay Kohli was recognized for his extensive professional experience and training. Dr. Devashish Shukla was honored for excellence in community and social psychiatry, and Dr. P.K. Srivastava for contributions to public mental health.