‘Unquiet Minds’: Young Voices, Parents and Experts Call for Better Mental Health Conversations at The Hindu Lit for Life
Velankanni Raj B via the Hindu
CHENNAI: Concerns around traditionalism, the rise of the manosphere, and incel culture are finding renewed expression among young people navigating the pressures of the digital age, 16-year-old youth advocate said at . Speaking as the youngest panellist at the festival, Avira highlighted how rapid information flow, despite greater awareness of mental health, has also intensified harmful experiences for adolescents.
“Traditionalism, manosphere, and incel culture are making a comeback. Not many people have access to conversations they can have openly with their parents,” she said, adding that the speed and volume of digital information often leave young people overwhelmed rather than supported.
Avira was speaking on a panel titled ‘Unquiet Minds: A Generation in Crisis – Conversations on building a better world for our children’, where she shared the stage with her father , along with mental health experts and . The discussion centred on the widening communication gap between adults and children and the urgent need for equitable access to mental health support in a digitally saturated world.
Raising Children in the Digital Age
One of the most engaging sessions on Day 1 of the festival, the panel prompted the audience to reflect deeply on parenting in the digital era. Participants raised questions about how to raise children amid screens, social media pressures, and constant comparison, while also interrogating ideas of privilege and even the decision to bring children into an uncertain world.
Ms. Sen, co-founder of Children First, an organisation working with children, youth and families, challenged the dominant narrative that today’s children are inherently more fragile than previous generations. She argued that adults often view children through a “broken” lens.
“There is no time for childhood anymore,” she said, pointing out that children as young as those in Classes 1 and 2 are already attending tuitions. “Childhood has become a training ground for adulthood,” she added, warning that this premature pressure erodes emotional resilience rather than building it.
The Hidden Lives of Teenagers
Ms. Sen also spoke about how disconnected many adults are from the realities of teenage life. According to her, smartphones have evolved into tools of self-censorship, constantly shaping young people’s relationship with diet, fitness, pornography, and beauty standards.
“The shame that children experience is being exploited,” she said, stressing that blaming teenagers for their struggles ignores the manipulative design of digital platforms that profit from insecurity and comparison.
The panel agreed that while awareness around mental health has grown, meaningful conversations between adults and children have simultaneously declined, leaving many young people feeling isolated despite being constantly connected.
Normalising Therapy and Failure
A powerful moment during the session came when Amit Bhatt shared his experience as a parent initially hesitant about therapy. He recounted how Avira convinced both her parents of its importance through a detailed PowerPoint presentation explaining why she needed professional support.
The decision, he said, strengthened their relationship and opened up healthier channels of communication at home. “Failures must be celebrated,” he said. “They give us opportunities for tremendous growth. We were never ideal as kids ourselves, so we shouldn’t expect our children to be perfect either.”
His remarks resonated with many in the audience, particularly parents grappling with expectations shaped by social media and academic competition.
Young Voices and Policy Gaps
Avira confidently addressed questions from the audience, while also acknowledging her own privilege as a young person with access to platforms, support systems, and informed parents. She joined other panellists in calling for Central and State-level policy changes to improve mental health budget allocations, especially for children and adolescents.
Ms. Sen emphasised that long-term solutions to the mental health crisis would not be found solely in clinics. “Mental health solutions will be found in communities and classrooms,” she said, underlining the importance of peer support, safe spaces in schools, and everyday conversations that normalise vulnerability.
A Broader Cultural Moment
The discussion reflected a larger cultural shift, where young people are increasingly vocal about mental health, identity, and systemic pressures, even as social media amplifies harmful ideologies and unrealistic standards. The panel’s emphasis on kindness, mutual respect, and open communication stood in contrast to the polarised narratives dominating online spaces.
By bringing together a teenager, a parent, and mental health professionals on the same stage, the session underscored the importance of intergenerational dialogue—one that listens rather than lectures.
Our Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
The ‘Unquiet Minds’ panel at The Hindu Lit for Life captured a truth many families quietly struggle with: access to information has grown, but access to understanding has not. Avira Bhatt’s voice reminded the audience that young people are not just recipients of mental health conversations—they are critical participants in shaping them. As digital culture accelerates, rebuilding trust and dialogue between adults and children may be one of the most urgent mental health interventions of our time.
