National Dialogue and Innovation on Digital Mental Health @ NIMHANS, Bengaluru

Represented ManoRaksha at the National Dialogue and Innovation on Digital Mental Health held on 20th February 2026 at National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences(NIMHANS), Bengaluru, organized by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)Centre for Advanced Research in Digital Mental Health, focused on critical discussions around digital mental health delivery systems, application ecosystems, and emerging ethical challenges.

The dialogue examined the expanding landscape of psychoeducation apps, tele-consultation platforms, AI-enabled screening tools, and conversational chatbots. Drawing from experience in developing multiple digital mental health applications and chatbot-based systems for diverse organizations, technical insights were shared on architecture design, practical implementation, scalability, and operational limitations. While such tools improve accessibility and structured engagement, they cannot replace clinical judgment, therapeutic attunement, or human-centered care.

The rapid proliferation of mental health apps and AI advisory platforms has also intensified concerns around unethical practices, unverified clinical claims, data privacy risks, and lack of regulation. Certain organizations actively promote such applications to attract funding and visibility, despite their limited clinical utility and inadequate adherence to ethical and regulatory standards. The future of digital mental health will depend on strong governance frameworks, ethical deployment, and responsible integration of technology with evidence-based psychological practice.