Everyday Reflections

Think of words like doomscrolling, digital dementia or AI companionship. They may not have been heard before, but today, they are part of our daily lexicon. This new vocabulary reflects the reality of our times, as we stand at the intersection of tech + mental health + AI. 

By naming such phenomena, we are highlighting the impact that tech and screentime have on our mental health — the compulsion associated with it, the toll from overuse, and redirection of human needs like companionship/advice to AI. It signals how AI and tech is now a priority and occupies a crucial space in our lives (see carousel).  

While terms like digital dementia are yet to be formalised by psychology or psychiatry, as a global society, we are very comfortable in using them to define our lived experience. 

Interestingly, AI is both the cause and solution in this age. While technology can lead to psychosis or digital dementia, chatbot therapy can offer AI-based solutions. They can act as virtual therapists and offer stigma-free, provisional guidance to people in the absence of humans.

We have unprecedented levels of mobile penetration while facing a critical shortage of mental health professionals. In India, around 85.5% of households possessed at least one smartphone in 2025, according to the Ministry of Statistics. Meanwhile, India has barely 1 mental health professional per 1,00,000 people, shows National Mental Health Survey data. By learning to harness the power of AI, we could ensure primary mental health support. 

In fact, a randomised control trial by clinical psychologists from Stanford University found that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy-based chatbots were better at reducing symptoms of depression than an information-only approach. 

Language is always evolving, re-negotiated in our interactions, and adaptable to the needs of society. It will reflect the preoccupation of our times. As AI becomes more and more critical to our daily lives, we can expect more interesting words to enter our discourse.

In the next few posts, I will write about the real impact of AI on mental health and explore remedies.

What are some of the new terms you have come across which are related to AI?

#AI #MentalHealth #Doomscrolling #DigitalEra #Chatbots