Game addiction is dangerous
The news of suicide of three minor sisters in Ghaziabad has shocked the entire country. Initial investigation revealed that these sisters had been living at home for many years and were addicted to online gaming and mobile. Although the police is currently investigating many angles, but addiction to online gaming is being considered a major reason for suicide. In such a situation, a big question arises that can playing excessive games harm the mental health of children?
Regarding this, Dr. A.K Vishwakarma in the department of mental illness in the district hospital of Ghaziabad. show that online games If it is a game of winning and losing, it spoils the mental health of children. Because the pressure of losing affects the self-esteem of children, if a game is violent then it can increase aggression and loneliness.
Dr AK says that some children under the age of 18 are emotionally weak and become dependent on social validation or victory or defeat in games. If they get happiness from playing games and because of that happiness they get addicted to the game. Which becomes difficult to leave.
Dr. Prashant Goyal, Senior Consultant (Psychiatry), Shri Balaji Action Medical Institute, Delhi, explains that the gamification techniques used in today's task-based online games, such as rewards, levels and streaks, have a deep psychological impact on the minds of children. These games release dopamine in the brain and give children a feeling of success and control in the virtual world, which gradually causes real-life priorities to take a backseat and the boundary between play and reality becomes blurred.
Dr Goyal says that when a child becomes emotionally dependent on completing in-game tasks, it can affect his mental health, studies and social relationships. They get addicted to it and if for some reason they have to go away from it, then their mental health deteriorates. It starts with depression which can lead to suicide.
In such a situation, the role of parents becomes very important. They should communicate with children openly and without judgment, set healthy limits on screen time, and encourage physical activity, hobbies, and family time. If the child starts withdrawing from the family, becomes irritable, has a decline in sleep and studies or loses interest in activities he previously liked, then these are warning signs.
In such a situation, merely reducing the screen time is not enough, but it is necessary to take the help of a mental health expert, counselor or child psychologist in time to recreate a balanced routine, emotional connection and a strong support system of the real world for the child.
