Life inside Egyptian homes is slowly changing as smartphones light up living rooms and tablets sit beside children at the dinner table.
What has started as simple entertainment has become, for some families, a daily struggle to get their children away from screens.
In response to this growing challenge, the Ministry of Health and Population has launched a new initiative aimed at addressing the misuse and the addiction of internet and digital games among children and young people, placing mental health at the center of national priorities.
At the heart of this effort stands Abbasia Hospital for Mental Health, one of Egypt’s oldest and most prominent psychiatric institutions.
The hospital continues to expand its role beyond traditional psychiatric care, offering a comprehensive package of medical and psychological services under the umbrella of the ministry’s broader mental health initiatives.
Among the most notable additions are specialized clinics dedicated to treating technology and online gaming addiction in children, adolescents and youth.
The move reflects an official recognition that excessive digital use is no longer merely a parenting concern, but a public health issue requiring early intervention and professional support.
Head of the Children’s Unit at Abbasia Hospital, Dr Aya Amin, said the services of the initiative start with a 20-point questionnaire designed to identify individuals who may need psychological support due to internet or digital gaming addiction.
“This assessment helps us determine the appropriate therapeutic direction, whether preventive programmes or organised treatment plans, and allows us to provide the necessary psychological support,” Amin told The Egyptian Gazette.
The clinic is open to all age groups on Wednesdays. The clinic’s staff members receive children, adolescents and young adults, knowing that this type of addiction draws no distinction between people of any age.
The same staff members rely on scientific diagnostic mechanisms for early detection, conducting a careful evaluation of digital usage patterns and determine safe screen-time limits appropriate for each age group.
Medical teams in the clinic are trained in the latest behavioural therapy protocols, ensuring that treatment aligns with international standards, Amin said.
However, the approach does not stop at therapy sessions. The clinic’s specialists also implement community awareness campaigns that target parents.
“Family involvement is essential,” Amin said. “Parents need to recognize early warning signs and understand how to guide their children towards balanced digital habits.”
She noted that the initiative is implemented in cooperation with the National Mental Health Platform, an online service affiliated with the Health Ministry and the General Secretariat of Mental Health and Addiction Treatment.
The platform, she said, offers remote psychological consultations for individuals who cannot physically attend mental health hospitals.
The National Platform, she added, is designed for people who may feel hesitant about visiting a psychiatric facility.
“They can register online and receive therapy sessions virtually,” Amin said. “This ensures accessibility and privacy.”
Earlier this month, the Health Ministry officially announced the launch of these specialized clinics as part of the “Your Health is Happiness” mental health initiative.
The first phase covers six major psychiatric hospitals that serve Greater Cairo, the Delta and Upper Egypt.
Weekly clinics are currently operating every Wednesday at Abbasia, Khanka Mental Health Hospital, Maamoura Mental Health Hospital, Damira Mental Health Hospital, Minya Mental Health Hospital and Assiut Mental Health Hospital.
Ministry of Health and Population official Spokesman, Dr Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, described the clinics as a “fundamental step” on the road to protecting the social fabric and developing human resources.
The initiative, he said, is part of broader efforts to confront modern psychological challenges in an era of rapid digital expansion.
“Excessive digital use has become one of the defining mental health challenges of our time,” Dr Abdel Ghaffar said in a press statement during the launch of the clinics on February 8.
“Our goal is to protect individuals and families, while raising community awareness about the risks of digital addiction and the available methods of prevention and treatment,” he added.
Specialists laud, meanwhile, the timing of launching such an initiative.
Professor of Educational Psychology at Ain Shams University, Tamer Shawky, described the initiative as both “timely” and “necessary”.
Digital devices, he said, have become an essential feature of contemporary life, particularly with the rapid digital transformation and advancements in artificial intelligence.
“Nonetheless, the excessive use, especially of smartphones, poses serious risks to children,” Shawky said.
He warned that children as young as two years old now spend a long time, suing mobile phones, in some cases reaching what specialists describe as “digital addiction”.
“When a child uses a phone throughout the day, even during meals, and becomes anxious or distressed when it is taken away, this is a red flag,” Shawky said.
He explained that among the most common consequences are social withdrawal, heightened anxiety, reduced concentration and declining academic performance.
Professor Shawky also pointed to what he calls “digital distraction”, where a child interrupts studying every few minutes to check a device.
“The physical effects should not be ignored,” he said.
According to him, prolonged screen use can lead to vision problems, and back pain.
In some cases, excessive reliance on listening to videos across social media platforms, rather than interacting directly with others may even contribute to delayed speech development.
He stressed the importance of early intervention.
“When games begin to clearly affect study habits, sleep patterns or mood, or when a child withdraws from daily life, it becomes necessary to consult a specialist in child psychiatry or behavioural therapy,” professor Shawky said.
She added that early follow-up prevents habitual behaviour from turning into a chronic disorder.
Treatment, he explained, focuses not on banning technology, but on teaching balance.
“The physician can determine whether the child is experiencing true addiction and develop a treatment plan based on behavioural management techniques, time organization and training the brain to control compulsive urges,” he said.
He noted that families play a decisive role in this equation, with parents serving as role models.
“A child’s first understanding of screen use is shaped by observing how their parents use their own devices,” professor Shawky said.
