An adolescent clinic at Deenanath Mangeshkar hospital plans workshops for parents and children for Facebook and SMS de-addiction after observing rises in cases
An adolescent clinic at Deenanath Mangeshkar hospital plans workshops for parents and children for Facebook and SMS de-addiction after observing rises in cases
18-year-old Rahul Bhoir (name changed) has a predictable daily schedule. He gets up in the morning, texts good morning to Facebook friends and then stays glued onto his computer screen for the rest of the day, barely taking breaks -- not even for meals. 
Hooked: Psychiatrists confirm that Internet addiction is a mental
health problem and is on the rise among the youth. Representation pic
Over the past few months his parents have been observing that the teenager has grown increasingly reticent, missing in social life and making excuses to skip college. Things came to an extent when Rahul started refusing to come out of his room to meet relatives, as he would be busy chatting with friends online. His parents found that Rahul didn't like talking to them anymore, instead preferred living in the virtual world on social networking sites.
And this isn't a case in isolation. For the last four months, pediatrician Dr Vaishali Deshmukh, co-ordinator of Deenanath Mangeshkar hospital's Nine to Nineteen Clinic has been seeing cases of technology-driven addiction such as Internet and SMS on the rise. In a fix over how to deal with the increasing technological addiction cases, the clinic's team has hit upon a year-long strategy of combating the problem.
"The problem arises when parents do not pick up the symptoms at an early stage. But they cannot be blamed for this. For, when we think of addictions, only alcohol or drug abuse come in our minds as technological addition is a new entrant. Of late, we have noticed that net addiction has caused behavioural problems among teenagers and created communication gap between parents and children," she said.
Nine to Nineteen Clinic would be organising a series of interactive workshops on addiction. The first happened a couple of weeks ago. It was meant exclusively for parents and about 40 people attended the event. "We covered all sorts of addictions but most common was this technological addition. We carried out a survey to study the symptoms present in children. What parents discussed and came out as the most obvious symptom was increase in irritability among the teenagers, particularly if they are not allowed access to Internet or mobile phones," she said.
Following the workshop with parents where they were taught about this new addiction and ways to pick up its symptoms, the clinic would now hold similar workshops for adolescents. "Actually, we have planned year-long workshops. The next is in June as this month children are out for vacations. We hope to create awareness among children, help them overcome these addictions and empower them to be peer leaders and help wean others away from newer addictions," she said.
The hospital also has plans of starting a support group for parents and children suffering from various kinds
of addictions in the near future.
Problem on the rise
According to psychiatrists, Internet addiction is an increasing mental health problem. "Now, I have to deal with at least two such cases every month as opposed to one patient a year five years ago. Usually, such patients spend longer hours online and have little contact with real world. They don't want to be detached from the Internet and fight violently if forced to do so. They get depressed, develop communication problems with parents etc if their activities are objected," said Dr Hemant Chandorkar, psychiatrist, Ruby Hall Clinic.
Test yourself
Do you find that you stay online longer than intended?
Do you neglect household chores to spend more time online?
Do you bunk school/classes only to stay in touch with your online friends?
Do you get violent or fight if someone prevents you from staying online?
Do you prefer the excitement of the Internet to intimacy with your partner?
If you answered 'yes' to most of the questions above, chances are high that the Internet has a very powerful hold on you.
Global comparison
In August 2009, a one of-its-kind rehab clinic opened for Internet addicts. The 45-day programme, which costs Rs 7 lakh, is designed specifically to help Internet and videogame addicts overcome their dependence on various aspects of addiction. De-addiction camps in China were in the news last year because of the brutal methods (beating) used to cure a teenager of Internet addiction.
ADVERTISEMENT
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
