NHS Launches Treatment Service for Gaming-addicted Youngsters

The National Health Service (NHS) has launched a treatment service for British children who are seriously addicted to computer games.

It comes after the NHS announced in June that children with gambling addiction could get access to professional treatment via a dedicated gambling clinic.

The World Health Organisation describes “gaming disorder” as a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behaviour so severe that it takes “precedence over other life interests.”

“Health needs are constantly changing which is why the NHS must never stand still – this new service is a response to an emerging problem, part of the increasing pressures that children and young people are exposed to these days. However, the NHS should not be left to pick up the pieces – gambling and internet firms have a responsibility to their users as well as their shareholders and should do their utmost to prevent rather than cash in on obsessive or harmful behaviour,” Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS said.

“Compulsive gaming and social media and internet addiction is a problem that is not going to go away when they play such a key part in modern life,” Claire Murdoch, NHS national mental health director said.

Up to 14 new adult NHS gambling clinics are being opened across the UK. The Northern Gambling Service clinic in Leeds is the first outside of London and opened last month.