Getting Help

If you think your child’s computer or phone use is having a bad effect on their daily life or relationships, or putting them at risk, you should try to sort it out as soon as possible. 

Do you think they are unhappy or worried about anything? Might they be using the computer or phone to hide away, or to try and escape from something that is going wrong? Some children and young people are naturally more obsessive than others, and can find it hard to let go once they are involved with a game or social network, such as Facebook or Twitter.

Starting a conversation about cutting down your child’s computer or phone use can be really hard, especially if they have been doing what they want for a while. They may get defensive, say you are trying to control them, and that all their friends are allowed to do as they like.

If you think your child’s computer or phone use is linked to a mental health problem such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem or obsessions and compulsions, you should seek help by asking a GP for a referral to specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

Or try local youth counselling services, your child does not need to see a GP first to access these. Counselling or talking therapies can help your child sort out what is driving them to spend so much time online. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can be useful in developing strategies to limit computer or phone use.

If the young person is over 18, they will need to ask for help themselves, from their GP or a counselling service.