The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), under the ICMR–NIMHANS Centre for Advanced Research on Digital Interventions for Mental Health Care, will be hosting a National Level Consultative Meeting focused on the safe and responsible use of digital technologies in mental health.
This flagship meeting will bring together key stakeholders, including experts in mental health, digital technologies, public health, and policy, to engage in collaborative discussions and shape future directions in this rapidly evolving space.
The consultation will address critical areas such as risk-based categorisation of digital mental health applications, privacy and user protection safeguards, and ethical standards related to quality, transparency, and accountability. It will also explore emerging concerns around digital use, including the question of “how much is too much.”
A dedicated session will focus on promoting the healthy use of technology, building on ongoing work at NIMHANS through the SHUT (Services for Healthy Use of Technology) initiative.
Building on insights from prior roundtable dialogues, the meeting aims to consolidate stakeholder inputs, develop consensus-based recommendations, and inform practice, research priorities, and policy. The outcomes will contribute to recommendations to be shared with relevant ministries and national bodies.