JakartaGlobe-July 25
In a quiet corner of Jember, East Java, the lives of two siblings, EW, 19, and SA, 17, have been devastated by online gaming addiction. Once vibrant and engaged in everyday activities, their lives took a troubling turn, leading to severe depression suspected to be linked to their compulsive gaming habits. EW had been addicted to online games for approximately four years, while her younger brother SA immersed himself in gaming for about one year. Their mother, SN, shared her concerns with Suara Jatim Post, a member of the B-Universe Network, on May 5, recounting how her children transformed from normal adolescents into individuals trapped in a virtual world. “Initially, they were just like any other children—attending school and religious studies,” SN recalled. “But after finishing elementary school, things started to change. They began spending hours on their phones in their room. Their gaming sessions would stretch late into the night. They’d come out only for meals and baths, then retreat back to their room.” The situation escalated when SN realized that her children no longer recognized her or their father. Desperate for help, SN sought assistance at a local community health center, which then referred them to Dr. Soebandi Regional Hospital in Jember. There, medical professionals attributed the siblings’ condition to excessive phone use. Both children are now undergoing psychiatric treatment to address their depression. The problem of gadget addiction extends beyond Jember. In East Java, an increasing number of children are seeking behavioral therapy for similar issues. Menur Psychiatric Hospital (RSJ) in Surabaya reports that approximately 3,000 children have participated in various forms of therapy, including occupational, physical, and speech therapy, from January to July 2024. Read more at: https://jakartaglobe.id/lifestyle/thousands-of-east-java-children-seek-therapy-for-online-gaming-addiction
