“Pause the screen. Return to your senses. See. Hear. Touch. Smell. Taste. Breathe.”
With this message, mental health professionals on Wednesday called for a collective effort by parents, educational institutions and special educators to help children and teenagers develop healthier digital habits, warning that unchecked screen time and social media exposure are affecting emotional well‑being.
The message emerged at the Second Annual National Conference of the Deccan Positive Mental Health Practitioners Association (NCDPMP 2026) held in Hyderabad, where psychologists, psychiatrists, doctors, special educators, researchers and students deliberated on the theme Mental Health in the Digital Era.
DPMP president Sunanda Ravi urged people to use technology mindfully rather than automatically. Introducing the 5‑4‑3‑2‑1 grounding technique, she encouraged people to reconnect with their senses whenever they felt overwhelmed by digital overload. “Pause the screen. Return to your senses. See. Hear. Touch. Smell. Taste. Breathe,” she said, adding that mindful use of technology can help restore emotional balance.
DPMP secretary P. Dinakara Rao said the association, which began during the COVID‑19 pandemic with just 10 members, has now grown into a network of nearly 4,000 psychologists across India, with professional connections in around 15 countries. He introduced the concept of HGHT (Happiness Giving and Happiness Taking), urging people to create, receive and share happiness within their families, workplaces and communities.
Addressing the impact of digital technology on younger generations, Dr B.K. Pandiamani, director of Value Education Programmes, Brahma Kumaris Education Wing, said Generation Z should be equipped not only with digital skills but also with values, self‑awareness, discipline and sound judgement to safely navigate online spaces.
Dr C. Veerender Chennoju, psychologist, said emotional stress often manifests as physical symptoms, observing that the mind often speaks through the body. He cautioned that excessive social media use, constant comparison and information overload contribute to growing mental health concerns and stressed that seeking professional help is a sign of awareness and strength rather than weakness.
The conference also featured expert lectures by Dr Neha Gala on mental health and digital use, Rajendra Kumar Kapoor on work‑life balance in the digital era, Dr G. Saketh Reddy on nutritional psychiatry, Dr Chintapeta Ravi on Indian Knowledge Systems in the digital world, and Matt Perelstein, Co‑founder of EQ4Peace, USA, on emotional intelligence, peace and psychological well‑being.
Sessions focused on responsible technology use, emotional resilience and the need for early psychological intervention among children, adolescents and adults alike.
