Terms and Conditions for CalmConnect

1. Introduction

CalmConnect operates a non-clinical mental health and wellness technology platform designed for students, parents, psychologists, and educational institutions across India.

By accessing or using CalmConnect’s:

• web applications
• mobile applications
• dashboards
• AI-enabled tools
• wellness assessments
• emergency support features
• appointment scheduling tools
• institutional dashboards
• community services

(collectively, the “Platform”), you agree to be bound by:

• These Terms and Conditions
• The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (“DPDP Act”)
• The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017
• The Telemedicine Practice Guidelines, 2020 (to the extent applicable, if any)
• The Information Technology Act, 2000 and applicable rules
• All other applicable laws of India

CalmConnect is not a hospital, medical institution, emergency responder, or healthcare provider.

Use of the Platform is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which forms an integral part of these Terms.

4. User Eligibility and Consent

Age Requirements

• Users must be 18 years or older to provide independent consent.
• Users below 18 years must provide verifiable parental or legal guardian consent.

Consent may be collected through:

• school-issued consent forms
• DigiLocker-based verification
• guardian OTP confirmation
• Aadhaar-linked OTP (where legally permitted)

CalmConnect relies on institutions and guardians for verification and shall not be liable for:

• false age declarations
• fraudulent submissions
• improperly obtained consent

Institutional Role

For institution-integrated deployments:

• Educational institutions act as Data Fiduciaries under the DPDP Act.
• CalmConnect acts solely as a Data Processor.

In case of a personal data breach, CalmConnect shall notify the concerned institution without undue delay in accordance with applicable law.

Role-Based Access

• Students: Institution-specific wellness features
• Parents: Limited parent-view access
• Psychologists: Licensed professionals only
• Administrators: Institution dashboards

False identity or affiliation may result in immediate termination.

5. Psychologist and Provider Terms

Psychologists are independent practitioners and are not employees, agents, or partners of CalmConnect.

Clinical Responsibility

Psychologists are solely responsible for:

• clinical judgment
• therapy delivery
• ethical compliance
• emergency escalation decisions

Providers must refuse services where:

• tele-therapy is inappropriate
• in-person or emergency care is required

Clinical Notes

• Clinical notes remain confidential between the psychologist and the user.
• CalmConnect does not access therapy content except where required by law.
• CalmConnect bears no liability for therapeutic outcomes.

6. Community and Peer Interactions

CalmConnect operates as an intermediary under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

The Platform:

• does not initiate content
• does not edit or verify posts
• does not endorse community opinions

Important Disclosures

• Peer content does not constitute medical or professional advice.
• Anonymous participation may exist; backend traceability is maintained strictly for safety and legal compliance.

Conduct Rules

Zero tolerance for:

• self-harm encouragement
• harassment or bullying
• hate speech
• misinformation

CalmConnect may remove content or suspend accounts without prior notice.

7. Data Handling and DPDP Compliance

CalmConnect processes personal data in accordance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.

Key Principles

• purpose limitation
• data minimization
• secure processing
• audit logging

User Rights

Users may request:

• access
• correction
• erasure
• withdrawal of consent

Consent may be withdrawn through account settings or by contacting support@calmconnect.in

Withdrawal may result in restricted access or service termination as required by law.

Data Ownership

• Users retain ownership of journals and personal entries.
• CalmConnect receives a limited license solely for platform operation.
• Institutional reports are anonymized and non-identifiable.

8. Institution and University Access

Institutional dashboards are provided on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis.

Institutions may access:

• anonymized wellness analytics
• trend reports
• SOS incident logs

All interpretation, monitoring, escalation, and welfare decisions rest solely with the institution.

9. Payments, Fees, and Refunds

CalmConnect does not process or collect payments for therapy services.

All payments occur directly between users and psychologists using external payment methods.

Accordingly:

• CalmConnect is not a party to financial transactions
• CalmConnect does not manage refunds or cancellations
• CalmConnect is not a payment intermediary, marketplace, or escrow service

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, CalmConnect shall not be liable for:

• medical or psychological outcomes
• therapist negligence or decisions
• reliance on peer-generated content
• AI outputs or interpretations
• SOS delays or failures
• network outages or third-party service interruptions

All services are provided on an “as-is” and “as-available” basis.

11. Indemnification

Users agree to indemnify and hold harmless CalmConnect from claims arising out of:

• misuse of the Platform
• violation of these Terms
• unlawful conduct
• user-generated content

12. Force Majeure

CalmConnect shall not be liable for delay or failure caused by events beyond reasonable control, including:

• telecom outages
• cloud failures
• natural disasters
• government restrictions
• power or infrastructure disruptions

13. Termination and Suspension

CalmConnect may suspend or terminate accounts if users:

• violate these Terms
• pose safety risks
• provide false information
• attempt system misuse

14. Modifications

CalmConnect reserves the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any feature or service at its discretion without liability.

15. Dispute Resolution and Governing Law

• Governing Law: Laws of the Republic of India
• Jurisdiction: Courts of Jammu & Kashmir, India

Arbitration

Any dispute shall be resolved through arbitration in accordance with the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.

• Arbitration shall be conducted by a sole arbitrator.
• Language: English.
• Arbitration shall be binding on all parties.

16. Contact Information

📧 support@calmconnect.in

17. Grievance Officer (IT Rules, 2021 Compliance)