First, it was parents that were coming out to state their fears that their kids are getting addicted to computer games, but now it is the United Nations that has come out sounding the alarm by including gaming disorder among the mental health illnesses out there.
Long before now, countries such as China had already started working on internet addiction camps because youths were taking so much to the internet where they spend very long time gaming.
Here are things about gaming disorder you don’t know:
- Meaning of gaming Disorder: According to the United Nations, gaming disorder is a pattern of gaming behavior, either digital or video gaming which makes it impossible for people to have control of their gaming activities.
- What it includes: people suffering from gaming disorder include those who continue gaming even to an extent that it affects one’s activities and one places it above everything else even when it has serious negative consequence.
- Since it has been classified as a disorder, it can be diagnosed. To do this, one’s behavior has to be seen to impair the function of an individual in the family, as an individual, as well as in social, educational and occupational settings.
- Before one can be said to be suffering from the disorder, one has to show the impairment for at least 12 months. This means that you have to show that because of gaming you cannot function for 12 months before you can be said to be suffering from it.
- As an International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) which is what the UN considered it to be, it means that gaming disorder can now be diagnosed as a disease with its signs and symptoms as well as social circumstances.
- What this means is that just as there are alcohol, drugs and gambling, disorder, you will now find gaming disorder in the same place.
- For the decision to be reached to consider it a disease, there was the consensus opinion of experts from various disciplines and geographical regions.
- Gaming communities are angry with the move to consider that there can be a thing like gaming disorder, arguing that the finding is inconclusive.
- It is not only the gaming communities that have a problem with that but also The American Psychiatric Association which said it has not found “sufficient evidence” to consider gaming of any sort as a mental illness.
- The proposal to have the gaming disorder will be presented to the World Health Assembly in May 2019 for adoption. It that is done, it would come into effect on January 1, 2022.
Some more facts about gaming disorder
11. In China, there are 200 million players playing the Honour of Kings
12. As of 2009, there was only 8.5% of U.S youths addicted to gaming. In places like China, the number may go a little higher as a result of easy internet connectivity.
See Also: Chinese Internet Addiction Camp- 11 Things To Know About The Rehab
13. Countries that have already started treatment for gaming addiction include China, which has clinics to treat online games, chatting and web surfing addictions. Others are the Netherlands, United States, Canada, and Australia.
14. There are people who make use of gaming to control or manage their mood and stress. It is believed that such people are at a greater risk of getting addicted to video games.
