Girl addicted to PlayStation in Dubai attacks father with knife

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Girl addicted to PlayStation in Dubai attacks father with knife

Dubai - Dubai Police is trying to rehabilitate the 14-year-old girl from her gaming addiction

By Amira Agarib

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Published: Tue 14 Nov 2017, 11:00 PM

Last updated: Wed 15 Nov 2017, 11:52 PM

In an unusual case, the Dubai Police helped rehabilitate a 14-year-old girl from her addiction to PlayStation games, which made her behave in a violent manner.
 
The girl is reported to have tried to physically hurt her father. The Dubai Police received a call from Rashid Hospital about the girl - from a GCC country - who displayed very violent tendencies, making it difficult for the medical staff to deal with her.
 
Lt Col Rashid Al Falasi, director of the crime monitoring department of Dubai Police, said their victim care official went to the hospital and tried to talk to the girl, who was visibly disturbed and also talked in an aggressive manner to him.
 
The girl's parents confirmed that she had heavily addicted to PlayStation games and started exhibiting the violent and abusive actions shown in the games, in real-life. She even tried to assault her father with a knife.
 
After her family tried to help her, to no avail, they took her to the hospital.
 
Lt Col Al Falasi pointed out that  the victim care team and specialist doctors held psychological and awareness sessions for the girl and her family. The parents were advised not to allow her to watch video games and turn her attention to creative and productive activities and introduce her to new hobbies. The teenager was also counselled about the seriousness of the issue, as it could lead her to indulge in violent or criminal behaviour later, if left unchecked.
 
Following up on the case, the Dubai Police learnt that the girl's condition has improved considerably after her daily routines were changed.
 
Lt Col Al Falasi urged parents to recognise the risk of addiction to video or online games, especially at early ages, its impact on children, and their inability to distinguish between the virtual world and reality. Parents are asked to monitor kids' activities closely, especially in the light of harmful and malicious influences spread by the online world.
 
amira@khaleejtimes.com


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