REPORT ON “WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY”
The Youth Red Cross Unit and Counselling Cell of Milagres College, Hampankatta, Mangaluru, in association with IQAC, NSS and NCC, observed World Mental Health Day by organising an awareness programme on the topic “Sleep, Screen and Your Mind” on 8 October 2026, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. at the Milagres College Auditorium. The programme was attended by 125 volunteers.
The objective of the programme was to create awareness among students about the importance of healthy sleep habits, responsible screen use and their impact on mental health and cognitive well-being.
The programme commenced with the Youth Red Cross Song sung by the YRC volunteers. Ms Kavya of I BBA served as the emcee, welcoming the gathering and introducing the programme. Ms Sushmitha Shaila Moras, Youth Red Cross Programme Officer, escorted the dignitaries. Mrs Glanciya Fernandes, Vice Principal; Mrs Chethana Kumari, IQAC Coordinator; Mrs Anju Thomas, Counsellor;Mr Joel Mascarenhas, NSS Programme Officer and Lt. Denzil Pinto were present.
The resource person, Dr Aruna Yadiyal, MD (Psychiatry), Professor and Unit Head, ‘B’ Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Father Muller Medical College, Mangaluru, delivered an informative session on “Sleep, Screen and Your Mind.” She explained the importance of short-term and long-term memory in learning and academic performance, highlighting how adequate sleep supports concentration, memory consolidation and subject learning. The session covered nocturnal sleep, melatonin and sleep architecture, including the roles of Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) and Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep in physical restoration, memory and cognitive functioning. She also discussed cognitive hyperarousal, in which persistent mental activity makes it difficult to relax and fall asleep.
Dr Yadiyal highlighted how dopamine-driven reward loops and infinite scrolling encourage prolonged screen use, while doom scrolling can increase stress and anxiety. She introduced digital minimalism as a way to use technology more intentionally. The concepts of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and JOMO (Joy of Missing Out) were also explained, encouraging students to reduce social comparison and appreciate offline experiences and meaningful personal time. The programme emphasised the importance of balancing screen time, maintaining a regular sleep schedule and adopting healthier digital habits to protect mental well-being and encouraged students to reflect on their daily routines and make positive lifestyle changes.
Ms Kavya of I BBA proposed the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to the resource person, dignitaries, organisers and participants for their valuable contributions and support in making the programme meaningful and successful.