"Sadmir and his board game companions are just some of the 300 patients at the gaming disorder clinic, Australia's only publicly-run institution of its type, helping patients wean themselves off excessive online gaming habits. The room where they meet is a simple space in a faceless hospital but in the corner, there's a pile of boardgames on a chair. Jenga, Uno and Sushi Go are also popular choices at the informal group which is attended by both patients and clinicians."
"It's a bit of a departure for the 15-year-old who until a couple of months ago preferred to play games with friends online for 10 hours a day. "It feels completely different," says Sadmir. "You get to roll the dice instead of clicking a button. You can interact with people, so you actually know who's there rather than just being on a call with random people.""
Fifteen-year-old Sadmir Perviz travels weekly to Fiona Stanley Hospital to play board games and role-playing games with other patients, replacing previous ten-hour daily online gaming sessions. The publicly run gaming disorder clinic treats about 300 patients, using in-person group activities to reduce excessive online gaming. Clinicians and patients attend informal game groups featuring Jenga, Uno and Dungeons & Dragons. Psychiatrist Daniela Vecchio states that gaming can become addictive and that gaming platforms and social media pose similar risks, including excessive online time and exposure to predators or bullying. The omission of gaming platforms from Australia’s under-16 social media account ban raises concern.
Read at www.bbc.com
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