Photo: CFP

Centers emerge to help youth and families unplug from computers

 

For over a year, Chen Liang from Chenzhou, Hunan Province, has been helping youth recover from Internet addiction. Though he does not earn much from the "emotion studio" he set up, Chen knows first hand that helping a family in need exceeds the satisfaction of making money. 

Chen used to be a management trainer, coaching managers and bosses from different enterprises on management. He noticed in his conversations that many of his clients had problematic relationships with their children.

Some of the children were addicted to the Internet, some were violent and some were in romantic entanglements at an early age.

With an educational background in applied Psychology, Chen offered his advice to help alleviate their problems.

"They were happy, and I found that their happiness meant more to me than helping them make money," said Chen. With this realization, he shifted his career focus. 

Home for the heart

The "youth Web psychological mentor" is a new occupation recognized by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, to help youth overcome Internet addiction.

In April 2011, volunteers and experts from education, public service and medical science backgrounds gathered together to work on a project for the mental development of young adults.

The project is to train more youth Web psychological mentors and provide services at places known as xinling jiayuan (home for the heart) for youth in need. So far, the project has covered 83 cities and regions in China.

Chen's "emotion studio" was the first in Chenzhou to be authorized as a training center and a "home for the heart" in the project.

All qualified psychological mentors are given a certificate approved by China Employment Training Technical Instruction Center (CETTI), an organization under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, responsible for organizing occupational skill tests.

"This is something we all encourage," said Kong Lingzhong, an Internet addiction expert and director of an anti-Web-addiction center in Beijing.

He also supports the regulation of the standard and quality of training, to increase the number of qualified mentors. "This shouldn't be a way for people to make a quick fortune, or to get a certificate by taking only a three-day course. That's not the path we're on," said Kong.

Societal issues

When Ding Yinghao came back to China after studying psychology in Japan, Ding was shocked by a local news report, in which a parent beat a child to death because of the child's Internet addiction.

After making preparations and fundraising, Ding funded a full-time training school in Jinan, Shandong Province to help young people overcome their addiction.

 Fifty to 100 students can be enrolled at the school. They stay 20 days to a year, depending on the level of addiction.

The school employs both psychological mentors, who focus on psychological treatment and moral guidance, as well as teachers to teach subjects students might miss from not attending a normal school.

Different from using old tactics like banning the use of computers altogether or forcing participation in military training, Chen's studio provides guidance with a softer touch.

It offers summer camps and weekend classes to both parents and children, since family issues are often crucial in many of the cases.

Kong explained that because the cause of Internet addiction varies from case to case, there is no cure-all treatment.

For instance, if family issues are the main cause, then weekend class for parents and children, filled with discussions and role-playing games are useful. If it is a matter of personal habits, then intensive training at a full-time school or summer camp is beneficial.

Ding said helping these youth is not a job that all psychologists can do.

"First, you need to understand the Internet and video games to know how kids can get so addicted."  

Bridging understanding

A number released by China Youth Internet Association in 2009 cited that 24 million people, ages 6 to 29, were struggling with Internet addiction.

According to Kong, the number of people struggling with Internet addiction is expanding. Initially, it was considered an issue affecting the youth demographic, but now this problem affects children and older people. Kong said some websites and video games specifically target children.

"Many parents whose children are only 4 or 5 come to us for help. This is a trend," said Kong.

Ding told the Global Times that his school accepts people 12-29 years old. At the moment, the oldest student is 39-years old. Age aside, there is a generational and cultural barrier separating parents and their children. Ding said some parents do not understand their child's condition and just send the child directly to a hospital, exacerbating the situation.

"Some of the children were mentally ill when they were sent here. We can't do anything at that stage," said Ding.

Chen once encountered a case where a child had no interest in anything aside from video games, because his parents did not take appropriate action at early stages.

Kong explained that there isn't a set criterion to diagnose Internet addiction. It can only be judged subjectively based on the time a person spends online and the influence it has on other daily activities. 

This requires parents and schools to pay attention and understand children's activities. Professions like youth Web psychological mentor and places like "home for heart" are increasingly important.