Subhechcha Ganguly 
Social media addiction is a behavioural addiction characterised by excessive concern about social media, an insatiable want to access or use social media, and a commitment of so much time and energy to social media that it interferes with other crucial facets of life.
Why was the aim behind creating the awareness page?
When I started off with psychology, I had no proper guidance. I don’t wish the same for others willing to enter this field and so I wanted to start a blog which will be a safe space for people to share, question and learn from. My aim is to break the stigma surrounding mental health, chat and raise awareness about different topics, share my journey and information as I keep learning. I’m not a professional yet, neither do I pretend to be one. I hope my page gives a voice to people and is a place which people can always turn to!
How does social media affect mental health?
Social media plays an important role in our lives and while it can be put to great use, there are negative aspects to it as well.
Not everything is real online. So, there’s always a tendency to compare oneself to what we see online and when our expectations of ourselves aren’t met, we perceive ourselves negatively. There is always a possibility for body image issues, judgements, jealousy as well as peer pressure. Also, most of us tend to mindlessly scroll for hours and end up getting no work done or even move out of bed. As studies have shown, all of these result in a poor quality of life, disrupted sleep patterns, leads to an increased risk of anxiety, depression, or loneliness.
Tell us about some ways to reduce screen time
Just like too much of anything is harmful, too much of social media isn’t good! I feel that if one has a task that has to be done within a time frame, temporarily uninstalling social media apps might be helpful. Also, there are apps which put a check on the time you spend on the apps.Try catching up with loved ones(offline) or find a new hobby which does not include your phone. It might help too.
Tell us something about the Importance of mental health professionals in educational institutions.
I have understood the importance of having mental health professionals in educational institutions after I entered college. Personally, college hasn’t been a good experience, from the very beginning. I believe that there should be a mental health professional who will actually hear the students out, maintain confidentiality and work with the authorities to bring about some change. Many professionals don’t help but cause more trouble by complaining about the student.
Their presence is important to help the student through various problems they might be facing like bullying, body-image issues, judgements, academic pressure or rude and unfair professors.
What helps you to cope with mental healtth issues ?
My page has really given me a space to share issues that I want to and I think jotting down my thoughts really helps me cope. There are even days when I feel so low that I don’t feel like doing anything. On those days, I take my time to unwind, read if I feel like or listen to music and be by myself.
Interview by : Subhechcha Ganguly
