Study reveals mobile game addiction and homework burden are causes of child suicide

Experts warn that rising addiction to mobile phone gaming, parents not spending quality time with family and irrationally higher homework load are some of the main causes behind the growing number of child suicides in schools, colleges and universities across Pakistan .

Psychiatric disorders are spreading rapidly in the country. About 35 percent of the country’s population has needed psychiatric help at some point. Yet there is only one child psychologist for 40 million children.

Study reveals mobile game addiction and homework burden are causes of child suicide

They recently spoke at a one-day seminar on ‘Mental Health – A Global Priority’ at Sukkur IBA University. Hope for All Social Development Organization organized the program in collaboration with Khairpur Medical College and Schizophrenia Outreach Larkana (SOL).

They expressed concern about the lack of psychology experts in Pakistan, the Dawn reported.

Dr. Badruddin Junejo, head of SOL, said poverty, inflation, social inequality, domestic violence and other reasons also contributed to mental illness.

Dr. Zulfiqar Rahojo, a psychologist and chairman of the Sindh Progressive Thinkers Forum, said that according to 2017 World Health Organization statistics, there were a total of 342 psychologists, 478 psychiatrists and mental health professionals for about 21 million people in Pakistan.

Dr. Harish Kumar Makheja, head of the Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences at Khairpur Medical College, said that besides mobile phone gaming, parents not spending quality time with family and irrationally increased homework load were some of the major factors. for the increase in suicide among the young generation in schools, colleges and universities.

Rabia Mirza, president of Hope for All Social Development Organization, said that the entire society was trapped in depression, which led to anarchy and caused a tendency among the young generation to become addicted and commit suicide.

There is only one child psychologist for 40 million children in the country

Dr. Inayatullah Awan, head of the Department of Psychology at GM College, Sukkur, said Pakistani society suffers from mental disorders caused by poaching, gender inequality, tribal wars, floods and epidemics. Inequality had caused serious problems for the poor and marginalized people in society.

The speakers demanded an increased number of public-private partnerships for mental health and health budgets and an increased mental health allocation. Mental health awareness campaigns are being conducted through the media and reforms are being made to existing mental health laws.

To protect children from mental illness, the problem needs to be addressed in schools, communities and institutions and psychologists need to be given more facilities and sent to rural areas and small towns.

Also see: Brain imaging research reveals several neural mechanisms underlying excessive smartphone use