The Meeting on Policy and Programme Responses to Mental and Behavioural Disorders associated with Excessive Use of the Internet and other Communication and Gaming Platforms co-organised by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Department of Health (DH) opened in Hong Kong today (September 6).

      The three-day meeting brought together experts from 20 countries, WHO advisers and local stakeholders to review and share the updated information and discuss the way forward to prevent and reduce public health problems associated with excessive use of Internet and electronic devices. The meeting also provides a platform for the participants to share good practices and evidence-based interventions, identify challenges, prioritise actions and develop collaborative strategic approaches to address the problems.   

      Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Director of Health, Dr Constance Chan, said, “Information and Communication Technology has become an indispensable part of our daily life. Noting that the increasing trend of popularity of the use of the Internet and mobile devices, and the age of going online and using electronic gadgets is getting lower, we are very concerned about the potential health risks relating to improper and excessive use of the Internet and electronic screen products.” 

      To address the concern about potential health risks related to the increasing use of the Internet and electronic screen products, Dr Chan pointed out that the DH had convened the Advisory Group on Health Effects of Use of Internet and Electronic Screen Products in 2013, set up a designated web page and developed various means to promote the health tips and recommendations for various target populations.

      On the international front, Dr Chan said, “Our department has been collaborating with the WHO on various important public health topics. I must thank the WHO for giving us the chance to co-organise this meeting, as this has facilitated us to further strengthen our network of partners who share a common concern for this important subject.

      “I am sure that the review and sharing of global and regional situations, evidence-based interventions and strategies, and good practices among local and overseas participants and experts, will bring us closer to the ultimate goal of enabling our population to enjoy the benefits and convenience of the new technology and go online in a healthy way.”

      Other officiating guests at the opening ceremony of the meeting included the Coordinator, Management of Substance Abuse, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse of WHO Headquarters, Dr Vladimir Poznyak, and Consultant, Unit of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Division of Non-communicable Diseases and Health through Life-Course of WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Dr Bai-Fang Xiao Sobel. A total of 41 local and overseas participants are attending the meeting.

      This year’s meeting is the third meeting organised by the WHO on public health implications of mental and behavioural disorders associated with excessive use of Internet and electronic devices since 2014. The topics covered in this meeting focus on health promotion and prevention as well as treatment policies and programmes aimed at reducing public health problems, in particular mental and behavioural disorders associated with excessive use of Internet, computers, smartphones and similar electronic devices.

Ends/Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:42

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