Internet rehab clinic for children hooked on modern technology
 

Maybe if this had around when GoChiefs was growing up, the world would be a better place? :)




http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...echnology.html





Children who are hooked on computer games, the internet and mobile phones are to be offered help at what is thought to be the first dedicated technology addiction service for young people in Britain.

The Capio Nightingale Hospital in central London - where singer Amy Winehouse was treated for drug addiction - launched the new service for patients as young as 12 following calls from parents concerned about their children's obsession.
Youngsters will be weaned off their gadgets in a residential unit and will also be taught face-to-face social skills.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Richard Graham said parents had told him their children flew 'into a rage' when they were asked to turn off their computers and police had even been called to settle the rows.

Dr Graham, who is leading the new addiction treatment, said rehab services need to 'adapt quickly' to help young people affected by technology addiction - who he dubbed 'screenagers' - rather than sticking with the same treatment models used for substance abuse.

'Mental health services need to adapt quickly to the changing worlds that young people inhabit, and understand just how seriously their lives can be impaired by unregulated time online, on-screen or in-game,' he said.

'We have found that many of the existing services fail to recognise the complexity of these situations, borrowing from older models of addiction and substance misuse to very limited effect.

'This is why Capio Nightingale Hospital has launched the first Young Person Technology Addiction Service, which we hope will address the underlying causes of this addiction to transform screenagers back into teenagers.'

The treatment aims to increase off-screen social activities and improve the person's confidence in face-to-face situations, the lack of which may have made them more susceptible to technology addiction.

It also encourages them to think about their relationship with their phone, computer games or social networking websites like Facebook and teaches them skills to help them to switch off.

The treatment package may also include a look at body image and physical health if the addiction has affected the child's confidence, activity levels or diet.

Strategies to deal with online problems, like cyber bullying, may also be part of intensive in-patient care, group or individual therapy.

Dr Graham told the London Evening Standard the technology addicts - who he compared to gambling addicts - were hyper-stimulated so they were 'always on the alert' and could suffer withdrawal symptoms like agitation.

'I've been contacted by parents who see their children going into a rage when they're told to turn off their computer. Some end up having to call the police,' he said.

Dr Graham said children played some computer games for the social contact, adding: 'It gives them a sense of connection so they end up playing all the time.'

He said: 'What we need are official guidelines now on what counts as healthy or unhealthy use of technology.'

Other clinics, including The Priory, offer treatment for internet addiction but have no dedicated service for young people.

A spokeswoman for Capio Nightingale Hospital said the service will be offered for children as young as 12 but those aged 15 to 17 are expected to be the main target group.

She said the service did not aim to make children give up technology use completely, instead they are encouraged to cut out any problem use - like computer games - and restrict the time spent using their phone or computer.

I remember getting pretty mad when I had to get off the Nintendo or computer. Probably a few fits of rage.

The epic fail thread will do that to people.

Maybe if the parents were involved in thier kids lives and actually set some rules for them this wouldn't be an issue. Sometimes parents have to be the bad guy and actually set guidelines for behaviour. These are probably also kids who have their computers in their rooms and who knows where all they are going on the 'net. My computers are all in the front room. That way I can see where the kids are going online at any moment just by walking up behind them and looking over their shoulder.

we had rehab for technology back in the day. it was called your dad throwing your nintendo in the trash.
/end.

not 'technology'-based, but I 'll never forget the time my oldest brother was shooting my middle brother with a new procured rubber band gun from silver dollar city. After repeated warnings from my dad to stop etc, he shot one final time - my dad took the gun, and snapped it over his knee like Bo Jackson would snap a bat lol.

the look on my brothers' face = priceless.

I was irate when I was beat by The Sandman or the Hippo in Punch Out.

JFC that game drove me insane.

There was an article in Wired about a internet rehab in China where they would beat the shit out of the kids and give them electro-shock therapy.

my daughter gets equal screen time to play/read time. read for an hour, you can play on the internet for an hour. play two soccer games before noon on a saturday, watch TV the rest of the day. the rule is kinda lax, but enforced enough to be effective

Yes, this x1000!!

My thoughts exactly.

The parents definitely face quite a few more challenges in this day and age but the failures are still theirs and not the kids'. Learn and adapt to parent, and there won't need to be any rehab centers for "technology addicted" kids. Ludicrous.