Internet Gaming Disorder cases rising by 20% annually in Gujarat, experts warn

Cases of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) in Gujarat have increased by nearly 20% in the last year, raising growing concern among families and mental health professionals, particularly as excessive gaming among teenagers and young adults becomes more widespread.

Mental health experts warn that prolonged video gaming can lead to anxiety, insomnia, boredom, academic failure and, in severe cases, suicidal thoughts. What often begins as a harmless pastime can gradually develop into a serious behavioural disorder, frequently without families recognising the warning signs.

Outside a government-run mental health treatment centre in Ahmedabad, a middle-aged father waiting with his son described the toll of gaming addiction on family life. He cautioned parents to intervene early if their children begin spending excessive time on mobile or video games. According to him, as addiction deepens, routine household responsibilities start to feel burdensome, irritability increases, and anger surfaces when even small tasks are assigned — all of which are indicators of gaming disorder rather than normal behaviour.

Traditionally, stress-related complaints dominated mental health treatment centres in Ahmedabad and other parts of Gujarat. However, clinicians now report a sharp rise in cases linked to gaming addiction. Across Gujarat, mental health facilities are registering more than 400 cases of gaming disorder every month, with over 150 cases reported monthly in Ahmedabad alone.

In the digital age, easy access to smartphones and online games has made addiction increasingly common. Excessive gaming, clinically termed Internet Gaming Disorder, was recognised as a disease by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2018. The condition is characterised by gaming for more than three hours a day, accompanied by symptoms such as anxiety, sleep disorders, declining academic performance and suicidal ideation.

India is home to an estimated 568 million gamers, with experts suggesting that between 3 and 15% are at risk of developing IGD. In Gujarat, cases reportedly rose by 20 to 40% after the Covid-19 pandemic, as mobile gaming surged by around 40% during lockdown periods.

Specialists note that mobile gaming addiction is now more prevalent in rural areas than in cities. In villages, gaming is increasingly consuming leisure time traditionally devoted to farming and animal husbandry. Beyond its psychological impact, excessive gaming is also affecting physical health, contributing to digestive issues, eye strain and rising obesity levels, experts warned.