More youngsters found addicted to computer games

The findings come from a survey conducted by the Mental Health Department covering primary and junior-secondary school students.

"This addiction may lead to serious problems. Some children might end up playing until they drop dead in front of their computer screens, while some may take their own lives if their parents try to stop them from playing," Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopamornbodi pointed out yesterday.

He added the violent games might also encourage some of these young gaming addicts to try out dangerous things.

"Meanwhile, some children might be end up begging for money just so they can finance their habit," Manit warned.

In a bid to stop this addiction, the Public Health Ministry's Mental Health Department conducted a one-day course to help parents deal with this problem. Introduced four years ago, the course has proved highly effective in changing children's behaviour.

"About 79 per cent of the parents who have taken the course reported that their children have become less addicted to games," Manit said.

He said the success stemmed mainly from parents' decision to change their own behaviour first.

"If parents spend at least 40 minutes a day talking, playing or even cuddling their children, the risk of the young ones getting addicted to games can be reduced by half," Dr Chatri Banchuin, the Mental Health Department's director general, said yesterday. He explained that many children often opted for games just so they can brag to their friends.

Parents dealing with children addicted to games can register for a one-day course with the Mental Health Department next month.

In a related development, Chulalongkorn University lecturer Sompong Jitradab yesterday criticised the Cabinet for recently approving ministerial regulations allowing kids under the age of 15 to visit gaming cafes from 2pm to 8pm on weekdays and 10am to 8pm on weekends and holidays.

"The regulations do not protect children at all. Research has clearly shown that spending more than three hours playing computer games will not only harm the children, it will also do harm to the society," Sompong said.