The Gulf Cooperation Council Health Council launched a campaign to raise awareness about video game disorder, entitled “La’eeb_Laken”, as part of its efforts to promote health awareness and how to use video games in a healthy and balanced way, with the aim of providing guidance and advice to players and their families on how to enjoy video games in a healthy and moderate way.
The campaign includes publishing a set of awareness messages that focus on the importance of balancing playing electronic games with other daily activities, while emphasizing the psychological, physical and social benefits that can be achieved through this balance. The messages also provide guidance on the optimal use of electronic games and determining the appropriate period for playing them.
Gaming disorder has been defined as a pattern of persistent gaming behavior in which a person has difficulty controlling the amount of time spent gaming, which makes them prefer gaming to other tasks in their life. In 2018, the World Health Organization classified gaming disorder in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11).
The Council warned of the need to pay attention to warning signs that may indicate excessive use of electronic games, such as believing that electronic games are the main activity in daily life, feeling stressed, anxious or sad if playing is not possible, neglecting academic, professional or social duties due to preoccupation with games, and suffering from tension in personal and family relationships as a result of excessive playing.
The council also provided a set of tips to maintain the health of players while playing electronic games, including adjusting the session from time to time during the game to reduce back and neck pain, increase focus and high performance, reduce muscle and joint stress, protect the eyes from stress, improve breathing and digestion, and practice stretching exercises such as stretching the neck and shoulders to relieve stress and improve focus, stretching the hands and wrists for flexibility and reduce pain, stretching the back to improve posture and comfort, and protecting the eyes from fatigue stress by stopping the game every 20 minutes and focusing on an item 20 feet away (about 6 meters) for 20 seconds.
The Council also provided a set of tips for parents while their children are playing, including helping them get enough fluids by drinking water and fresh juices, discussing the games with them and their personal experience with them, setting a specific time for playing and ensuring their commitment and participation in practicing various physical activities, reviewing the content of the games and ensuring that they are compatible with their age, and encouraging them to try various games instead of sticking to one type of game to develop their skills.
The Council stressed that electronic games are part of the lives of more than 100 million people around the world, and through awareness, a balance can be achieved between playing and social, academic, health and psychological life. It also recommends that playing should not exceed two hours a day, to avoid its negative impact on personal life, such as increasing the rate of anxiety problems, depression, lack of sleep and lethargy.
Through these messages, the Gulf Health Council aims to achieve a tangible positive impact in society and increase awareness about the healthy and balanced use of electronic games.