NFZ: Free help for children addicted to new digital technologies

• The National Health Fund, together with the Ministry of Health, launched a pilot program for children addicted to new digital technologies.
• In 10 specialized centers, the youngest and their families will receive professional psychological help free of charge.

According to the data of the Office of Electronic Communications from 2019, nearly 9 out of 10 children use the Internet every day, and 80% between the ages of 7 and 15 have a mobile phone. The phone is used by almost 64% of children aged 7-9. In the group of 10-12 years it is almost 92%. Every teenager aged 13-15 can boast their own smartphone.

Widespread access to and abuse of new technologies can quickly result in addiction, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following social media for hours or compulsive gaming on a mobile phone has an impact on the psyche and behavior of children and adolescents.

That is why the National Health Fund, together with the Ministry of Health, launched a pilot program for children and adolescents who cannot do without computers, smartphones and tablets. The pilot is to help get out of addiction. Thanks to it, it will also be possible to test new models of care for the youngest patients who cannot live without a laptop or a mobile phone.
- We see the problem of children and adolescents' addiction to new digital technologies - emphasizes Filip Nowak, president of the National Health Fund. - For this reason, we decided to implement the first program in Poland, which is to really help the youngest patients in the fight against addiction. I am convinced that thanks to this initiative, the institutions implementing the program will develop a model therapeutic path for children who are struggling with addiction to a smartphone or a computer, which can be used on a large scale throughout Poland - adds the head of the National Health Fund.

The pilot program runs from December 2021 to the end of June 2023. Little patients and their relatives can count on professional psychological help in 10 places in Poland.

The first center of this type has been operating since December 23, 2021. It is an Independent Group of Public Open Health Centers in Warsaw-Mokotów. An agreement with the National Health Fund was also signed by the Center for Prevention and Therapy for Youth and Adults in Białystok.
Soon they will be joined by 8 more branches, located in Bielsko-Biała, Jelenia Góra, Konin, Łódź, Szczecin, Toruń, Wrocław and Zielona Góra.

The therapy will be used by children before school, as well as by school children and adolescents, until they graduate from secondary schools.
Care of the center - which services can patients count on?
Young patients together with their parents can report directly to the center implementing the pilot program, where they will find professional support and professional care.
The therapy consists of:
• diagnostic medical advice
• medical therapeutic advice
• medical advice
• psychological and diagnostic advice
• psychological advice
• individual psychotherapy session
• family psychotherapy session
• group psychotherapy session
• psycho-educational session.

There is no referral for pilot treatment. It is enough to report to the facility implementing the program. The first advice or visit is possible already 7 working days from the date of notification.
The duration of the therapy depends on the patient. It can even be over 12 weeks. Treatment is free. They are financed by the National Health Fund.

Source: NFZ