Hooked young gamers will get NHS treatment
Kids of 12 to receive therapy at a pioneering centre
GAMING addicts, some not yet in their teens, will be treated at a special NHS centre.
The therapy will be for 12 to 20-year-olds whose obsession is so severe it has stopped them going to school, damaged family relationships or isolated them from friends.
Work begins with a pilot group in September and Central and North West London NHS Trust aims to treat 15 people over eight weeks. It is hoped to extend the treatment nationally.
Dr Henrietta Bowden-Jones, head of the psychiatric team, says “neurological processes” in gamers will differ from other addicts, such as alcohol and drugs users.
Yesterday the Daily Mirror reported how Carl Thompson, 17, from Preston, was driven to attempt suicide due to his addiction.
He became hooked on amphetamines so he could play video game Fortnite throughout the night, leaving him “a complete state, miserable and unable to function”.
The NHS programme will assess the risk of games such as Fortnite or Grand Theft Auto. Associate head of child safety online for the NSPCC Laura Randall said Carl’s experience will serve as a “wake-up call for many parents”.
She added: “We know children can be exposed to violent or inappropriate content across games and social networking sites. One of the best ways for parents to keep children safe is to have regular open conversations, no matter how old children are, about their life online.”
The World Health Organisation classified gaming addiction as a medical disorder in June.
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