LUCKNOW, May 19 -- As part of expanding their work in child psychology and raising awareness on the same, the psychiatry department of King George's Medical University (KGMU) has collaborated with teachers, counsellors, and department doctors to learn how to identify symptoms of conditions like internet addiction. This effort specifically aims to study the effects of excessive mobile and internet use on school-going children. Dr Vivek Agarwal, chairman of the programme and head of the department of psychiatry at KGMU, stressed the alarming increase in screen exposure, especially among children. "This excessive screen exposure can be harmful to the developing brain, which can hinder important developmental areas such as attention, cognitive skills, impulse control, and social interaction," he warned. Working with nearly 100 teachers and counsellors from various schools in the city, the department doctors are also sensitising educators on spotting early signs of internet overexposure in children. Dr Amit Arya from the department spoke about the mental and physical health problems arising from digital overexposure. He elaborated on the sharp rise in mental health issues like depression, suicidal ideation, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, sleep disturbances, addiction, and aggressive behaviour, along with physical problems like obesity and myopia....