Social Media and Mental Health: Finding Healthy Balance

Social media helps us stay connected with people, share ideas and access information easily. However, excessive or unmindful use can gradually increase anxiety, lower self-esteem, disturb sleep and create feelings of loneliness through constant comparison and FOMO. The World Health Organization has linked heavy social media use and screen time with higher risks of anxiety, depression and sleep problems, especially among young people. In India, digital addiction is recognised as a growing public health concern. NIMHANS offers specialised support for individuals facing technology-related mental health difficulties. Common signs include feeling restless or irritable without the phone, low mood after long scrolling sessions, reduced interest in real-life conversations, poor sleep quality, constant need for online validation and difficulty concentrating on daily tasks. Important ways to protect mental health include setting fixed screen-free times especially before sleep, turning off non-essential notifications, curating feeds to reduce comparison content, replacing scrolling with short walks or real conversations, practising brief digital detox periods and noticing how you feel after using social media. Building self-awareness about emotional triggers and strengthening offline relationships also play a key role in reducing digital stress and improving overall well-being. 4 Help contact Carl Rogers Counseling&Guidance Centre۔