If you believe that gaming addiction only affects the young population, you may be wrong just as most of other people. Unfortunately, the issue it’s not a popular subject.
XFM News talked to Lori Griffith, the coordinator of gaming addiction at Addiction Services of Thames Valley who explains that the addiction can affect anyone.
“A lot of people would think gaming is just for our youth population, but it’s actually something that crosses all age demographics. We also see problems in terms of social media, basically screen time. What will actually know is that the key age range is 25 to 34,” says Griffith.
After the official introduction of gaming addiction being added into the list by World Health Organization as a mental health condition, Griffith believes that the stigma and lack of knowledge about the problem will decrease, and explains the problem can be treated with counselling and can be easily detected.
The factors that impact on the excessive consumption of games are the same as the popular mental problems that we know. It can be related with concerns about life, feelings of isolation, and also to the exposure and accessibility on things that people enjoy doing a lot, and the more they do it, the more this activity will control them.
Griffith also points out some of the video games and apps that are the most likely to become addicted to, and also mentions that playing single player games for longer periods of time can be a problem for some people.
“I think it really depends on the individual in terms of what is attracted to them, so there are some that like online platform and that becomes your virtual world. Then there are also things that are single played use like Candy Crush that we have seen with the older demographic doing it, social media websites, even watching YouTube videos can be an addiction for some people,” adds Griffith.
Parents can seek out for their own help, or for their children in Walk-In intakes every Monday and Thursday at 1 pm at 200 Queens Avenue, or call to (519) 673-3242 – Extension 234, and the counsellor will contact you back.
The service is free and confidential.
