A consultant psychiatrist at the Ho Teaching Hospital in the Volta Region, Dr. Eugene Dordoye, has expressed concern over the rising threat to mental health posed by increased screen and sex addiction in Ghana.
He identified various forms of screen addiction, including betting, computer, and social media addiction, as on the rise among the population.
Dr. Dordoye shared these insights during a mental health advocacy workshop organized by MindFreedom Ghana, emphasizing the need to address these issues to safeguard the mental well-being of Ghanaians.
“The most common forms of screen addiction now is social media addiction and gambling or betting. That is also another challenge and another form of screen addiction because people use money hoping to win. People even think they are working when they are betting. They forget that the name of it is adult games. So betting is a game and not a way to make money, not an investment”, he said.
“All these are gambling, but young people are into it thinking they will make money out of it. Unfortunately, it is one of the avenues we are wasting the brawn and brain potential of our young people”, he stressed.
Dr. Dordoye highlighted the growing interest of the youth in forex trading, emphasizing that it is becoming a form of addiction. Many individuals, particularly the youth, are increasingly engaging in Forex trade with the hope of making financial gains.
“All these are gambling, but young people are into it thinking they will make money out of it. Unfortunately, it is one of the avenues we are wasting the brawn and brain potential of our young people”, he stressed.
Dr. Dordoye emphasized the need for heightened public awareness regarding the consequences of screen addiction. He stressed the importance of informing the public about the risks associated with various forms of screen addiction, including betting, computer, and social media addiction.
Additionally, he called for concerted efforts to treat and rehabilitate individuals who are already experiencing these conditions, underlining the significance of addressing screen addiction to preserve mental health in the population.
“These things are known, the challenge is the political will and the financial muscle to put these thoughts and ideas into action, that is where our biggest challenge has been”, he lamented.
He also indicated that drug addiction, which includes alcohol and substance abuse, health workers, and sickle cell patients abusing prescription drugs are on the rise, describing it as a worrying incident to public health.