International Conference on Media, Mental Health and Responsible Journalism: Promoting Ethical Communication for Psychological Well-being [Hybrid, Chennai, 4 September 2026]

Saveetha School of Law (SSL), approved by the Bar Council of India, was established in 2009 under the Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), a deemed-to-be university declared under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956. The school states that it aims to strive for quality legal education and to maintain higher standards of legal research and training, and that its academic autonomy together with flexibility for innovation in teaching allows it to pursue excellence. It encourages student participation in moot court, client counselling, community outreach programmes, mock trials and seminars, and imparts skills relevant to professional practice alongside classroom teaching. The brochure records SIMATS as NAAC A++ accredited and SSL as ranked 19th among all NIRF law, general, state, private and deemed universities in India.

This conference is organised by the Department of Intellectual Property Rights at Saveetha School of Law.

The international conference, themed "Beyond the Screen: Mental Health and Media Influence – Legal, Behavioural and Psychological Perspectives on Responsible Communication", examines the growing intersection between media consumption and mental well-being in contemporary society. Media platforms spanning news, social media, entertainment and digital advertising shape public perception, behaviour and emotional well-being in ways that remain inadequately regulated, and the conference addresses this gap between media's influence and the fragmented legal, behavioural and institutional responses to it.

The conference runs for a single day on 4 September 2026 at Laser Court, Saveetha School of Law, from 9:00 AM onwards. It is committed to fostering responsible communication as both a legal obligation and a societal imperative in the digital age.

• Mr Rajeev Amarasuriya – President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka
• Mr Mahesh Krishna – Headquarters Secretary, Tamilnadu Press and Media Reporters Union
• Mrs Kanimozhi – Head of Department of Psychology, Soka Ikeda College of Arts and Science for Women, Chennai

Research papers are invited on the following sub-themes:

• Responsible Journalism and Ethical Media Practices
• Suicide Reporting: Legal, Ethical and Public Health Perspectives
• Media Law, Freedom of Expression and Responsible Communication
• Mental Health, Human Rights and Access to Justice
• Psychology of Media Influence: Papageno, Werther and Copycat Effects
• Psychiatry, Media Representation and Mental Health Advocacy
• Public Health Communication and Suicide Prevention Strategies
• Media Ethics, Professional Accountability and Self-Regulation
• Artificial Intelligence, Digital Journalism and Ethical Governance
• Algorithmic Accountability, Content Moderation and Platform Responsibility
• Misinformation, Disinformation and Psychological Well-being
• Social Media, Digital Well-being and Online Safety
• Trauma-informed Journalism and Crisis Communication
• Media Representation of Mental Illness and Vulnerable Communities
• Child, Adolescent and Youth Mental Health in the Digital Era
• Gender, Diversity, Inclusion and Mental Health Communication
• Health Journalism and Evidence-based Reporting
• Journalism Education, Media Literacy and Professional Competence
• Sociology of Media, Culture and Mental Health
• Digital Platforms, Privacy, Data Protection and Mental Health Information
• Comparative Perspectives on International Media Laws and Ethical Frameworks
• Media, Democracy and Public Interest Communication
• Responsible Journalism in Disaster, Conflict and Humanitarian Reporting
• Emerging Technologies, Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Journalism
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Media and Mental Health
• Interdisciplinary Research in Media, Mental Health and Responsible Journalism

The brochure notes that these sub-themes are not exhaustive. Authors may choose any other theme within the scope of the main conference theme, provided it is aligned with and does not deviate from the primary theme.

The conference is open to academicians, legal professionals, policymakers, researchers, students, and healthcare and media professionals. The student category covers those pursuing the 3-year LL.B. course or the 5-year integrated law course.

Participants may join either as a presenter (submitting an abstract and, if selected, a full paper) or as an audience participant. The abstract submission form asks presenters to identify themselves as either from Saveetha School of Law or from outside SSL, and the registration form asks for the mode of participation, offline or online.

• Abstracts must not exceed 250 words and must contain the title of the paper with author details as footnotes. Five keywords are required, and the abstract must be uploaded in Word format.
• Co-authorship of up to 2 authors is permitted.
• Abstracts are to be submitted through the abstract submission Google Form, and the brochure also gives media.mentalhealthconfssl@gmail.com as the submission mail ID.
• Submissions are adjudged and selected purely on the basis of merit and originality. Intimation of acceptance of the abstract is sent after submission, after which the participant may proceed with the full paper and registration.
• Full papers must be 3,000 to 5,000 words including footnotes, and are to be sent to the link shared with the selected authors.
• Formatting: Times New Roman, font size 12 with 1.5 line spacing for the body, and font size 10 with single line spacing for footnotes.
• Citations must follow either the Indian Law Institute (ILI) style or OSCOLA, 4th edition.
• There must be no more than 10% similarity in the main content and less than 5% usage of artificial intelligence.
• The submission must be original and must not be simultaneously under consideration by any other seminar, conference, journal or book chapter.

Fees as printed in the brochure:

• Academician – Author Rs 1,000; Co-author Rs 1,200; as participant Rs 150
• Ph.D. Scholar – Author Rs 700; Co-author Rs 900; as participant Rs 150
• Student – Author Rs 500; Co-author Rs 700; as participant Rs 150
• Participants as audience – Rs 150

Payment is made by bank transfer or by scanning the QR code in the brochure. The account details are: Account Holder Name – Saveetha School of Law CME; Account Type – Current Account; Bank – Karur Vysya Bank; Account Number – 1248135000002593; IFSC – KVBL0001248; Branch – Saveetha Dental College, Velapanchavadi. The registration form requires the transaction ID and an upload of the transaction proof, and directs registrants to join the conference WhatsApp group once registration is complete.

Reporting time is 8:30 AM and dispersal is at 3:15 PM; the brochure asks participants to report at the venue by 8:15 AM sharp, and notes that late entry may not be permitted once sessions begin.

• Dress code: boys must wear formals or casuals and girls formals or a kurti; T-shirts are strictly not permitted. Complete, decent and presentable attire is expected throughout.
• Identity card: all participants must carry their original college identity card. Entry will not be permitted without a valid college ID.
• Discipline: misconduct, disturbance or misbehaviour will result in immediate removal from the venue.
• Transportation: participants must make their own travel arrangements; the organising committee is not responsible for travel.
• Refreshments: refreshments are provided to all registered participants; lunch is provided only for presenters.
• Certificates: participation certificates are issued only to participants present for the entire duration until dispersal at 3:15 PM. Online participants receive e-certificates.
• Mobile phones must be kept on silent during all sessions.

The brochure and the live submission forms carry different dates, and applicants should work to the earlier ones. The brochure prints 31 August 2026 as the last date for abstracts and 2 September 2026 for payment and registration. The live abstract submission form states 29 August 2026, 11:59 PM, and the live participant registration form states 1 September 2026 as the last date for registration. Both forms were open and accepting responses at the time of listing. Anyone in doubt should confirm with the student coordinators on the numbers below before the 29 August cut-off.