I recently learned about IIT Bombay's commendable decision to make a mental health course mandatory for its first-year students. This move, which I understand was reported by journalists like Pallavi Smart (pallavi.smart@expressindia.com), is a crucial step towards acknowledging and addressing the immense pressures faced by young minds in highly demanding academic environments IIT Bombay makes mental health course mandatory for first-year students.
For years, I've reflected on how deeply intertwined our mental well-being is with the rapidly evolving digital landscape and the intense competitive pressures of our modern world. In a previous blog, "Seeing AI through Google Glass" Seeing AI through Google Glass, and implicitly in "Privacy does not live here!" Privacy does not live here !, I touched upon the pervasive nature of technology, where our emotions and activities are increasingly observed, even interpreted by AI. This constant digital scrutiny, coupled with the relentless pursuit of achievement, can weigh heavily on young individuals, making them feel perpetually exposed and evaluated.
The world these students are preparing to enter is, as I noted in "It's an Era of tech Fights, world Economy is the Battleground" It's an Era of tech Fights, world Economy is the Battleground, a battleground of innovation and economic volatility. The challenges of tariff wars, economic slowdowns, and the rise of AI mean that the job market is less predictable, creating a profound sense of anxiety for graduates. Furthermore, the concerns I raised in "Critical Thinking: Achilles' Heal of AI?" Critical Thinking: Achilles' Heal of AI? about the potential erosion of human critical thinking skills due to over-reliance on AI add another layer of complexity to their intellectual journey, demanding not just technical prowess but also mental resilience.
I believe the conditioning of our thinking process, a topic I explored in "Aadi – Anaadi - Niraakar – Nirantar – Nirgun – Neti - Avinaashi" Aadi – Anaadi - Niraakar – Nirantar – Nirgun – Neti - Avinaashi, often dictates our perception of success and self-worth. In such highly competitive academic settings, this conditioning can lead to unhealthy self-comparisons and an intense fear of failure, deeply impacting mental health. The decision by IIT Bombay to proactively address this is a powerful validation of the need to prioritize the human element amidst technological advancement and academic rigor.
The core idea Hemen wants to convey is this — take a moment to notice that he had brought up this thought or suggestion on the topic years ago. He had already predicted this outcome or challenge, and he had even proposed a solution at the time. Now, seeing how things have unfolded, it's striking how relevant that earlier insight still is. Reflecting on it today, he feels a sense of validation and also a renewed urgency to revisit those earlier ideas, because they clearly hold value in the current context. We must foster environments where individuals can thrive not just academically or professionally, but holistically, ensuring their minds are as robust as their intellects.
Regards, Hemen Parekh
Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai
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