The Continuing Education Unit, in collaboration with the Community Health Nursing Department, organized a specialized workshop titled “Internet Addiction Among Adolescents.” The workshop was held at the Nineveh Girls’ Middle School and was presented by Assistant Professor Dr. Aysan Kamal Muhammad and Assistant Instructor Raad Khamis, targeting fourth-year students and adolescents to raise awareness about this silent epidemic
The workshop aimed to build safe digital awareness. It sought to achieve a set of strategic goals to protect young people, most notably raising health awareness by warning of the dangers of excessive use of smart devices and the internet, clarifying the causes of addiction such as boredom and social isolation, identifying behavioral and physical symptoms, and providing practical strategies to enhance digital awareness and activating the role of parental supervision
During the workshop, researchers reviewed the scientific concept of internet addiction, explaining that it is a disorder characterized by uncontrolled use of digital media, which chemically affects the brain through the release of dopamine and leads to withdrawal symptoms and anxiety upon cessation. The speakers warned of the resulting side effects, including anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances, and poor academic performance
The workshop concluded with a set of practical recommendations to manage this disorder, including achieving digital balance by setting aside screen-free times, especially before bed and during meals; providing physical alternatives by encouraging sports and hobbies that support direct social interaction; and adopting a gradual cessation policy by reducing hours of use rather than sudden bans, leading to specialized treatment using cognitive behavioral therapy techniques in advanced cases
This workshop embodies the College of Nursing’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 3 on good health and well-being by protecting adolescents’ mental and physical health from the risks of technology, and Goal 4 on quality education through promoting a culture of digital safety and raising community awareness within educational institutions
