Photograph used for representational purposes only
| Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
An increasing number of school children are displaying signs of addiction to their smartphones and other electronic devices, mental health experts in Tiruchi have said.
A senior official at the District Early Intervention Centre, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital said that children who are spending over 14 hours on their phones are being referred, at least once or twice a week, at the Tiruchi facility.
“We have seen young boys and girls who become aggressive and even threaten suicide when their phones are taken away from them. This is becoming a common issue among children across all ages with access to smart devices,” the official told The Hindu.
Approximately three to four children exhibiting symptoms of smartphone addiction are being reported on a daily basis at the Athma Mind Care Hospital (AMCH) in Tiruchi.
“Mobile phones are used as a babysitting device in many homes. As the eye-to-screen time increases, over time, children feel a compulsion to use the mobile phone for pleasure. Parents, teachers and friends play a role in how a child uses the smartphone. Addiction can develop due to factors such as a low intelligence quotient (IQ), undiagnosed learning disability or lack of parental affection. Overuse of phones can make children take up online gambling or even procure drugs through the dark web,” said M. Rajaram, consultant psychiatrist, AMCH.
Medical intervention and long-term residential care are required to break the habit in some of the more severe cases, said Dr. Rajaram.
Part of learning module
With most schools adopting online tools such as WhatsApp and their own proprietary software to stay in touch with students, parents however, said that mobile phones have become an essential part of the learning module.
“Though my daughter’s school does not allow mobile phones on campus, the only way to find out about upcoming assignments and other events is through their WhatsApp group. My daughter spends at least four hours on her phone after school, both for study and to relax. We argue about it, but we cannot control children for too long, because as grown-ups, we also use our phones constantly,” said a parent.
(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416, and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050.)
Published – March 22, 2025 05:31 pm IST
Leave a Reply