Sat Mar 22 12:01:17 UTC 2025: **Tiruchi Sees Rise in Smartphone Addiction Among School Children**
TIRUCHI, INDIA—March 22, 2025—Mental health experts in Tiruchi are reporting a significant increase in smartphone addiction among school children. The District Early Intervention Centre at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital is seeing three to four children referred weekly who spend over 14 hours daily on their phones, exhibiting symptoms ranging from aggression to suicidal ideation when devices are taken away.
Athma Mind Care Hospital (AMCH) reports a similar trend, with three to four children presenting with smartphone addiction daily. Consultant psychiatrist M. Rajaram attributes this to factors including the use of mobile phones as babysitters, leading to increased screen time and compulsive usage. He cites low IQ, undiagnosed learning disabilities, and lack of parental affection as contributing factors, noting that overuse can lead to online gambling and even drug procurement via the dark web. Severe cases may require medical intervention and long-term residential care.
While parents acknowledge the integration of mobile phones into the school curriculum via platforms like WhatsApp, they struggle to limit children’s usage. One parent interviewed stated their daughter spends at least four hours daily on her phone for both studying and leisure, despite school rules prohibiting phones on campus. The article concludes with contact information for suicide prevention helplines.
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