KOCHI:Attention parents! Do your children become anxious over the loss of their mobile phone or worry while it runs out of battery, balance or network coverage? If so, they are experiencing nomophobia (no mobile phone phobia), one of the latest problems being faced by the digitalised new generation.
Nomophobia is becoming a common thing among the youngsters in the city, if figures with the counselling centres and mental health care institutions are taken as an indication. According to experts, around 20 to 30 per cent of the psychiatric cases reported in the city suffer from nomophobia.
“Addiction to smartphones is taking a toll on the mental health of the youngsters. This kind of behavioural addiction has been found in around 30 per cent cases who seek treatment for psychiatric disorders,” says Kozhikode Medical College Psychiatry wing professor Dr Harish M T. On an average, the medical college attends 100 to 120 cases of various mental ailments per day.
According to experts, youngsters form 70 per cent of the nomophobia cases.
Psychiatrists in the city warn of several social and mental problems caused by nomophobia.
“Addiction to smartphones leads to social exclusion. Most of the youngsters who use smartphones hardly speak to their relatives. Even to parents and siblings,” says city based clinical psychologist Wilson Mathew. His institute Manomaya attends at least three cases of nomophobia per month while 20 per cent of the total cases are related with the issues of mobile phone addiction.
Besides, smartphone addiction badly affects discipline and studies. Parents complain their children spend upto 7 hours on smartphones during holidays.
“Our children do nothing.
They just sit with their mobile phones, typing away furiously during their leisure time. They are least interested in physical exercise and playing,” says a parent.
Easy internet access and shrinking playgrounds too have fuelled the addiction. However, experts call for firm steps to address the crisis.
“Behavioural addiction should be handled in a serious manner. They should be perceived just like addiction to drugs and liquor. Besides, awareness should be spread about smartphone misuse among parents and children alike,” says Dr Harish M T.