We all have heard of the terms binge watching and feasting on entertainment in the era of streaming platforms. But does the addiction qualify as a mental health disorder?
According to a Hindu’s report, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANs) in Bengaluru received its first case a few days ago and and is treating for the same.
The 26-year-old man turned to Netflix to escape reality and the pressure of being unemployed for more than six months. He hit the point of realizing he could exercise no self control. It is unclear whether he checked in himself, did so at his family’s behest or was brought in by family or friends.
Manoj Kumar Sharma, professor of clinical psychology, who heads Service for Healthy Use of Technology (SHUT) clinic at the mental health institute said,
“Whenever his family pressurised him to earn a living, or when he saw his friends doing well, he would watch the shows on offer continuously. It was a method of escapism. He could forget about his problems, and he derived immense pleasure from it.”
“Whenever his family pressurised him to earn a living, or when he saw his friends doing well, he would watch the shows on offer continuously. It was a method of escapism. He could forget about his problems, and he derived immense pleasure from it.”
According to NIMHANs, SHUT was launched in 2014 as India’s first clinic dedicated to treating technology addiction including gaming and phone addictions. It is interesting to note that World Health Organization (WHO) classified video-game addiction as a mental health disorder in June 2018, a contentious decision within the fraternity.