Tagged With "digital wellness"
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Re: Canucks players put in video game ban on the road
This is good news. I hope it sets a great example for their young fans, as well. Thanks for sharing, Colleen.
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Re: An interesting read
I appreciated also just how much heart this teacher has. A well written, thoughtful blog.
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Re: And the debate continues: Study links excessive screen time to developmental delays in children
The article notes that "these tests included measures of their communication skills (for instance, forming full sentences), gross motor skills (running and walking), fine motor skills (tying shoelaces or copying letters), as well as problem-solving, and personal and social skills (serving themselves food)." While screen time may enhance communication, I can see where screen time could delay gross and fine motor skills (watching a screen does not teach a child how to run, jump or squat, cut...
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Re: CTV interview Should addiction to video games be considered a disease?
This is an article that features the concerns some scholars have about gaming being included in the ICD-11: "Scholars' open debate paper on the World Health Organization ICD-11 Gaming Disorder proposal"
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Re: Blog on WHO's decision to include gaming disorder in the ICD-11
I like how you addressed a number of commonly held concerns, as well as your summary of key messages. One of the points that resonated with me most was when you stated "Adolescence is a time when people are most at risk...If problems go undetected and untreated during this time when youth are laying the foundation for their future, the negative effects can be far-reaching." This reminded me of the importance of early intervention. Hopefully the recognition of video gaming as a disorder will...
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Re: Subscribe to lottery tickets???
I was curious about this as well. I went on line to see what the registration process was like. It seems as though you have to deposit money in an account in order for the transactions to happen. I didn't see a link to add a credit card number or arrange direct deposit. If I am correct, then that might be a good way for people to manage their lottery buying habits as they will have to put the money up front for their purchases. It will also have people be more mindful of how much they are...
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Re: Research on Parent-Child "Technoference"
Thanks for your question, Sylvia. According to the authors, the term technoference was coined by McDaniel and Coyne (2016) and refers to interruptions in interpersonal interactions or time spent together due to technology. This can include sending texts or emails, checking your phone or social media, and even picking up a phone call or answering a text during a conversation with your child (although this is not limited just to the parent-child relationship but to other relationships in your...
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Welcome to new members and some orientation information
A warm welcome to all new members, and a big hello to all those who have been part of the subgroup for a while. To introduce myself, my name is Anita Corsini and I recently joined the Gambling, Gaming, and Technology Use (GGTU) team here at CAMH. Part of this new role will involve facilitating conversation on this online subgroup, as well as organizing other knowledge sharing activities relevant to researchers and practitioners in the field of gambling, gaming, and technology use. Please do...
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Re: Online Forum: Gambling, Gaming & Technology Use in a Virtual Landscape: Prevention, Effectiveness, and Adaptations
Hello @Registered Member! I'm sorry you weren't able to attend. However, I can let you know that an archive of this year’s Forum events will be available on our webpage . Some items will be available only to folks that registered for this year’s event but there will also be items that are available for general viewing as well. Check back in the coming weeks!
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What will you takeaway from the GGTU Virtual Forum?
Welcome to any new Community of Interest members who joined us recently! Our first ever online Gambling, Gaming, & Technology Use (GGTU) Forum - GGTU in a Virtual Landscape: Prevention, Effectiveness, and Adaptations - ended yesterday. We were incredible fortunate to have such an incredible line-up of speakers and thought-provoking presentations. Our Closing Keynote speaker, Dr. Sally Gainsbury, asked us all to consider, " What are your organizational and personal goals for 2021 and...
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Re: Research/Stats on Professional Gamblers and their income
Hi Shannon, This article we published in 2013 is dated but has information income from a small US sample of professional gamblers. I hope it helps. It's a starting point. Jeremiah
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Podcast recommendation: Digital wellness, tech use and video game addiction
Hi folks, I'm hoping to share interesting resources each week on the topic of problem tech use and digital wellness. This week, one of my favourite podcasts tackled this topic along with problem gaming. It's about a 45-50m listen, perfect for a socially distanced walk or to help you get through the weekly chores: https://open.spotify.com/show/3YJVMZhsHlrQq3PKf6p7mo Description: Nadja Streiter, LMSW is a psychotherapist and parent coach, as well as Director of Programs at Game Quitters. She...
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Assessing gaming disorder: Expert opinions
Gaming disorder can be difficult to assess, as there are concerns about over pathologizing normal or potentially healthy behaviours. A new study surveyed 29 international experts until consensus was reached about useful criteria for assessing gaming disorder. This study helps clinicians with creating their own assessments to ensure they're looking at the most relevant features in their assessment to target as well as ensure they're not problematizing less relevant features. An interesting...
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Mindfulness and problem gambling treatment.
A few years ago, problem gambling clinicians in Ontario began introducing mindfulness groups to clients as they felt that they could benefit from cultivating greater awareness of their thoughts and emotions while detaching from and not giving in to them. This practise is particularly relevant to people with gambling problems who tend to hold incorrect or erroneous beliefs about the nature of random chance (Toneatto et al., 1997; Turner, 2006) and engage in automatic thinking before, during...
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Mindfulness-based relapse prevention for problem gambling manual
In Ontario, treatment for people with gambling problems was first implemented in 1995, in response to the opening of the province’s first commercial casino in Windsor. With extensive clinical experience and excellent research since then, knowledge about what constitutes effective treatment has been growing, but no one approach suits everyone. Treatment services have instead tended to adopt an eclectic and holistic approach, incorporating a biopsychosocial-spiritual model that draws on...
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Re: Movies on problem gambling, gaming & tech use
Amazing @Registered Member! Thank you so much, I have already downloaded a copy (and attached here in case others are curious to check it out). Also, I would welcome an updated article.
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Re: Movies on problem gambling, gaming & tech use
very cool @Registered Member. I will dig those up as well.
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Re: Mindfulness-based relapse prevention for problem gambling manual
Thank you so much Wayne and very nice to hear from you. I hope you are keeping well. Kind regards, Peter
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Re: Gaming and Youth - Health Matters
It's an interesting question - I did a bit of digging and found some papers that mention it, however there's limited empirical evidence actually suggesting or examining this area from what I can tell. A recent review about internet gaming disorder (IGD) as an emergent health concern for men by Chen and colleagues (2018) discusses eye strain. However when you look at the refence they cite a Young paper from 2009 , that discusses it's something to look out for without any citation or empirical...
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The Inventory of Gambling Situations (IGS) for working with clients with gambling problems.
The IGS is an excellent tool that counsellors can use when working with someone with a gambling problem. Here are some of the benefits of using it: It’s a well validated assessment tool. It is based on the idea that excessive gambling is a result of learned behaviour and therefore can be changed Provides insight into client’s specific gambling pattern and the situations that are most likely to lead to problem gambling behaviour Although developed from a CBT perspective, the IGS can be used...
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Serious games, mental health apps, and gambling disorder
The title of a recently published article, A Serious Game to Improve Emotion Regulation in Treatment-Seeking Individuals With Gambling Disorder: A Usability Study , peaked my interest for a few reasons. First, being part of a group of folks who design and create learning opportunities for mental health and addictions clinicians, we have talked about integrating "serious games" (broadly defined as games with educational or informational aims, vs. purely entertainment) into our course design.
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Re: Funding for Interventions
Hi Olive Here in Ontario, Canada, a certain amount of annual gambling revenues is directed towards gambling research, prevention, and treatment. I believe this was based on an agreement that accompanied the opening of casinos in the Province in the 1990s. The money is directed through our Ministry of Health. I think it was 2% of slot machine revenues from the slots at racetracks program. In my view, we were well funded as a result of that original decision and it worked well for many years,...
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Re: Funding for Interventions
Hi Olive I can't find the original document but it is called Ontario's problem - gambling Strategy and it has been in existence since 1996. Since 1999, it has been funded by a formula of 2 percent of gross slot machine revenue from charity casinos and slots at racetracks. The Strategy has a three-pronged approach consisting of treatment, prevention/awareness and research. I have attached a review of the strategy that was conducted in 2005. You can also find some information about it at the...
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Re: Problem Gaming Q&A with Elaine Uskoski (May 6-7, 2021)
So glad to hear Jake is doing well and has family nearby and a new pet for company - I'm sure that's been great support, especially during this past year with the pandemic.
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Re: Problem Gaming Q&A with Elaine Uskoski (May 6-7, 2021)
Hi Elaine! This is a really interesting conversation. Thanks for sharing your experiences and approaches that inform your work. I had a few questions I’d like to ask as well: What are some of the main challenges parents/caregivers face when addressing gaming or video game addiction with their children/kin? What have you found to be effective in addressing these challenges? Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected how you speak about gaming? In what ways?
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Re: Problem Gaming Q&A with Elaine Uskoski (May 6-7, 2021)
Yes, I remember when I worked with teens and parents as an EA for several years that young teens especially really appreciated clear rules and expectations around behaviour. Especially when it was consistent, it helped create a sense of safety and trust (plus some learning time and patience from parents/carers in those times when teens wanted to explore and test how firm those boundaries are!) Dr. Brene Brown speaks a lot about this on her podcast too. Older teens could also help co-create...
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Re: Problem Gaming Q&A with Elaine Uskoski (May 6-7, 2021)
This makes a lot of sense to me as well. If there isn't a clear contingency of what is and isn't allowed/expected, then people are going to test where those boundaries are. Especially if the choice is between doing something that they find engaging vs. something that may be important but isn't as immediately as captivating. Do you think that for older teens/young adults that it's better to set clear rules/expectations or to have discussions on time management, values/priorities and how they...
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Re: Problem Gaming Q&A with Elaine Uskoski (May 6-7, 2021)
Great question Mahfuz What I find often is that parents are rewarding children for following rules, rather than setting up a system where the child has a consequence of losing whatever their personal currency is when they don't follow through with expectations. I suggest parents make a list, that is clear for the child to follow, that contains both personal responsibilities as well as chores that are required. This list can be discussed and created with the child. But some of the items are...
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Re: Gacha Games - The merging of gambling and gaming
Great video Elaine. It wasn't a main part of the video you linked, but at 3:35 they're discussing a "whale" (i.e., someone who spends a lot of money on gacha games) and the subs indicate he, "did stocks and futures. That sort of thing". With gambling declining in Canada and in general worldwide, I wonder how many people who might have been gambling in slot machines or bingo might be gambling through gacha games instead, and how the profile of getting the same feeling of gambling through...
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'Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now'
The Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma argues that the social media platforms we use to stay connected are making us miserable, disconnected, and potentially having a much wider impact on the socio-political landscape. The documentary received both praise for its engaging content but also received its fair share of criticism for perhaps being, at times, unbalanced in its views (and for not including individuals who have been campaigning for humane and ethical technology long before the...
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Re: 'Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now'
@Registered Member - the arguments aren't necessarily what you might expect (like improved wellbeing, sleep, etc.) the book focusses more on the impact of those algorithms on our ability to have empathy with others or be critical of news sources (argument #3 - 'social media is making you into an a**; #4 - 'social media is undermining the truth; #9 'social media is making politics impossible'). The author is a computer scientist and futurist so I think he's really arguing about how these...
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Can jurisdictions effectively impose limits on videogame use by kids?
The Wall Street Journal has reported that China imposed a new rule for the country’s minors: No videogames during the school week and one hour a day on Fridays, weekends and public holidays. China announced strict new measures today to reduce what authorities describe as youth videogame addiction. The new regulation, announced by the National Press and Publication Administration, allows minors to play videogames between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Fridays and weekends as well as public holidays. It...
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JGI Fall 2021 - Issue 48 - Now Available!
The JGI Fall 2021 Issue is now available - all issues are open access. This quarterly issue features work by Canadian researchers, including Michael Wohl and Nassim Tabri, as well as international scholars, Sally Gainsbury, Bowden-Jones, and others. Original research by a Toronto-based team examined the high prevalence of problem gambling - but low rate of treatment participation - among people experiencing poverty and homelessness and showed that social, financial, housing, and health...
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Podcast Interview with a Recovering Video Gaming Addict
Many of you are familiar with my son's story of gaming addiction, as told by me in my speaking, webinars, and my books. Podcaster and recovered gambling addict, Brian Hatch recently interviewed my son, Jake, on his own, so he could share his journey through gaming addiction and recovery. Jake discusses what led him down the rabbit hole, how he struggled to overcome his compulsion, the support he received, and how he now manages his life, as well as his relationship with the internet, as a...
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GREO online consultation survey
Share your insights by contributing to a new online consultation survey about gambling participation and problem gambling prevalence . The Gambling Commission in Great Britain has appointed NatCen Social Research and a research team from the University of Glasgow to pilot a new approach for measuring gambling participation and prevalence of problem gambling. The aim is to develop a single high-quality population survey for the whole of Great Britain. As part of the pilot project, an online...
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User testing survey - Self Management App for Recovery from Gambling
Justice and Equity Lab, MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael's Hospital Our lab is creating a self-management app for problem gambling called SPRinG (Supporting People Recovering from Problem Gambling). The SPRinG app is currently being developed to help, first and foremost, persons experiencing poverty and homelessness self-manage their problem gambling and other complex needs by providing people with constant access to support through their smartphone. The app will also...
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App User testing - Supporting people recovering from problem gambling
Hi everyone, A research team at St. Michael’s Hospital has been working with the community to design and develop a self-management app to help people in their recovery from problem gambling. We are entering the user testing phase. The purpose of user testing is to help inform the next phase of app design. We are asking people to answer a 16-question survey. We would greatly appreciate it if you could share the survey link ( https://redcap.utoronto.ca/surveys/?s=CYPWHAAJCHHRCK9D ) with people...
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[Online workshop opportunity, March 10th 2022] Fundamentals of gambling and gaming: Effective assessment and treatment planning
The Gambling, Gaming, and Technology Use team is offering a facilitated workshop: Fundamentals of gambling and gaming: Effective assessment and treatment planning on March 10th from 13:00 to 15:00 hours EST. This training is best suited to newly qualified clinicians as well as students who are currently working directly with clients, however, successful completion of the Fundamentals of Gambling and Gaming (FUN-GG) course is a prerequisite. FUN-GG is a short, self-directed course that...