Increased use of social media and digital interactions are affecting the mental health of more young girls in India than boys, according to an expert. Late childhood and adolescence are the age groups when personality starts developing and gradually solidifying before getting further established in the early 20s. Dr.
Rakesh K Chadda, HoD, Psychiatry, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad said advances in technology are making adolescents and young adults aged between 15-25, vulnerable to developing mental health challenges. He blamed it on “the rise of information technology, particularly the increased use of social media and digital interactions” for the negative impact on health, especially mental well-being. It is because the overuse of technology has diminished physical activity and exercise in daily routines, disrupted regular sleep patterns in both timing and duration, encouraged instant messaging without time for reflection, and reduced face-to-face, in-person interactions, the psychiatrist explained.
“Emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD), also known as a Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), has significantly increased among youth over the last one to two decades, with rates more than twice in females compared to males,” Dr. Chadda said. The expert noted that if left untreated, it can severely impact social and occupational functioning, leading to co-occurring mental health issues like depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and an increased risk of suicide.
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