Ludhiana Experts Urge Parents to Address Children's Mobile Phone Addiction
In Ludhiana, mental health professionals are witnessing a surge in cases of mobile phone addiction among children and adolescents, prompting urgent advice for parents. Psychiatrists and psychologists emphasize strategies such as rationing device usage, closely monitoring content, and implementing reward systems linked to screen time to combat this growing issue.
Rising Cases and Expert Insights
Mental health experts report that excessive mobile phone use has become increasingly common, with parents seeking help almost daily. Dr. Ranjive Mahajan, a city-based psychiatrist, notes that he sees around 20 to 22 patients regularly for this addiction, many of whom spend hours continuously on their phones. These children often struggle to differentiate between the real and virtual worlds, displaying focus-related issues and anger problems.
Dr. Mahajan advises parents to strictly ration device usage by setting specific time limits on different days. "We advise parents to allow device usage only for a limited and fixed duration," he said. Screen time is suggested as part of a reward system, but rewards should be minimal and strictly tied to positive behavior or completed tasks. Additionally, parents are educated on the importance of monitoring the content their children consume. "Wherever possible, parents should try to watch the content with the child so that they remain aware of what is being viewed," Dr. Mahajan added.
Balancing Education and Addiction
Experts acknowledge that mobile phones and digital devices are integral to the education system, making complete elimination unrealistic. Dr. Navkiran Soch Mahajan, head of the psychiatry department at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), receives similar cases and emphasizes focusing on positive aspects while balancing use. "Parents need to be guided on how to balance the use of such devices while simultaneously monitoring the negative impacts," she said.
She recommends gradually reducing screen time and ensuring usage is minimal and need-based. Sudden withdrawal is not advisable, as it can worsen behavioral issues and cause emotional distress in children.
Behavioral and Psychological Impacts
Mobile phone addiction often leads to severe behavioral and psychological problems. Dr. Anshu Gupta, another city-based psychiatrist, sees three to four cases weekly, mostly involving children aged eight to 15. These children exhibit cognitive decline, anger issues, behavioral problems, difficulty interacting with peers, and poor concentration. "I have seen cases where children have banged their heads when denied mobile phones and have also injured elderly family members, including grandparents," Dr. Gupta said. Treatment focuses on counselling parents, with some children requiring symptomatic treatment as well.
Parental Responsibility and Monitoring
Several experts hold parents primarily responsible for the development of mobile phone addiction. Dr. Arvind Goyal, a psychiatrist at the civil hospital, notes that parents often hand over devices for convenience, such as to make children eat meals. "Once addiction develops, it starts causing multiple mental health issues," he said. While half an hour of screen time is advisable, many children use devices for hours daily, necessitating constant monitoring of both time and content.
Prolonged and unregulated usage has become a family issue, with children developing dependency early and parents struggling to correct habits later.
Counselling Parents Over Children
Psychologists primarily focus on counselling parents rather than children when dealing with addiction. Dr. Param Saini, a clinical psychologist, educates parents about parenting strategies, advising them to spend more time with children, focus on outdoor activities, and avoid handing over devices during free time. "Parents are cautioned to ensure children do not watch violent or inappropriate content, as it has a direct impact on their mental health," she said. Overexposure to social media and digital platforms often makes children impatient and anxious.
Behavior Therapy and Awareness Initiatives
Mental health experts educate parents and children on how excessive screen time affects the brain, sleep patterns, focus, and mood. Behavioral therapy techniques include setting gradual limits, using reward systems where screen time is earned after completing tasks, and replacing digital exposure with sports, hobbies, and physical activities. Dr. Ranjive Mahajan mentions initiatives in Maharashtra promoting "digital vrats" or digital fasting to address excessive device usage.
