Gaming addiction: how to get help

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Posted 8 October, 2019

By Jamie Watts

London, UK

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The NHS has launched a new initiative to help young people who’re seriously addicted to video games.

The World Health Organisation defines a ‘gaming disorder’ as a pattern of behaviour in a person where gaming takes priority over all other activities; we’re talking eating, sleeping, bathing, going to the toilet, and outdoor exercise. And now, according to the World Health Organisation, it’s an official medical disorder akin to gambling addictions and OCD. So tough love won’t work for you old school parents out there.

Britain’s first specialist clinic is opening to treat those aged between 13-25 whose lives are being literally debilitated by the compulsion to binge video games. That’s everything from AAA games like Fortnite and Call of Duty, to mobile games like Candy Crush, and well… Call of Duty.

Starting today (8th Oct) GPs and other health professionals will begin referring those they believe to be genuine addicts to the new service, with treatments officially kick-starting next month. Cognitive and behavioural plans will be administered in person at the National Centre for Behavioural Addictions in London, and consultations will also be available via Skype. To me that seems a little reductive – something like screen hopping – but hey, it’s the digital age and I’m far from an expert on the matter.

Don’t be fooled, this isn’t just something being drawn up by medical experts to appease today’s pop culture paranoid mums or merely tick a box. A diaspora of qualified clinical psychologists, mental health nurses, therapists, and psychiatrists all specialising in the rehabilitation of children and young adults have been deployed to take cases with the same gravity as more traditionally recognised addictions.

I’ve no doubt certain people will take qualm with equating gaming addiction to other forms of mental illness. I for one missed a few baths and certainly lost a few breakfasts to my teenage Xbox endeavours. But these addicts are spending upwards of 12-hours a day (I mean, that pretty much is the day) solidly playing games, with many becoming completely socially isolated from friends and family and often developing symptoms of Agoraphobia (a fear of the outside world). There’s also been an alarming influx of older gaming addicts being laid off from their day-jobs due to poor attendance according to several recent studies.

Rest assured then; your taxes aren’t being wasted.

The NHS obviously has a duty of care to adapt to modern challenges like this and they should be commended for recognising and tackling such a prevalent issue. In a consumerist world, people are inevitably going to become increasingly hooked on the latest in tech and entertainment, and it’s up to health professionals to implement the necessary safeguards to protect those with self-destructive tendencies.

It’s just a shame that certain gaming publishers and developers continue to rake in millions in profit through employing deliberately addictive mechanics, like freemium purchases, lootboxes, and timed events, while palming the moral responsibility off on others. Hopefully its legitimisation in the medical sphere will force game makers to finally address the problem at source.

Clean up after yourselves.

Jamie Watts

Senior Writer London, UK

I’m Jamie (He/Him), the Deputy Editor and a Senior Writer at Thred. Keeping up with social media updates and revolutionary technology is my forte, but when away from my keyboard, you’ll probably find me wrapped around a large Tango ice blast at the latest mediocre horror flick. Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.

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