The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi is set to establish the country’s first Centre for Advanced Research on Addictive Behaviours (CAR-AB). The centre will tackle internet and technology addiction among children and youth. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has approved this proposal.
It highlights the growing concern over excessive and problematic use of technology as a significant public health issue. Yatan Pal Singh Balhara is the Faculty in-charge of the Behavioral Addictions Clinic (BAC) at AIIMS, Delhi. He is spearheading this project.
“Excessive and problematic use of technology has been recognised as a major public health problem,” said Dr. Balhara. The Economic Survey of India (2024-25) has linked the rise in mental health issues among children and adolescents to the overuse of the internet. It emphasized the urgent need for school and family-level interventions to mitigate these issues and improve mental well-being.
Center addresses technology addiction issues
This is a first-of-its-kind centre in the country that has been mandated to develop evidence-based interventions targeted at excessive and problematic use of technology, especially among children and the youth,” Dr. Balhara said.
The centre will focus on prevention, screening, early detection, and intervention for internet and technology-related addictions among this demographic. It aims to develop educational resources for teachers, parents, and health sector workers to bolster their capacity for the prevention and management of these problems. Interventions will address associated issues such as stress, depression, anxiety, and addiction stemming from extensive use of technology.
The centre aspires to innovate an AI-based predictive model to detect vulnerabilities to excessive and problematic use of technology among the youth. The overall project is estimated to have an outlay of Rs 14 crore. CAR-AB intends to partner with students, parents, teachers, and faculty from various educational institutions, including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and other medical colleges, to create a national network focused on combating internet and technology-related addictions.
This initiative represents a significant step towards addressing a contemporary challenge affecting young individuals across the nation.
Image Credits: Photo by Domenico Loia on Unsplash
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