© dpa
According to the Berlin Senate Department for Health, the need for advice and support services for addictive Internet use is increasing.
Over the past five years, Caritas' specialized projects in Berlin have seen a significant increase in the number of people seeking advice on internet use disorders in connection with gaming, streaming, social media, pornography and online shopping, the Senate Department for Health announced on Wednesday. Caritas has therefore bundled its services under the umbrella of a center for behavioral addiction.
At various locations such as Café Beispiellos (Steglitz-Zehlendorf), there are counseling services for computer game and internet addiction or excessive gambling and media use. According to the information provided, they offer those seeking advice and their relatives a wide range of help such as individual, couple and group discussions or leisure and aftercare groups.
The Center for Behavioral Addiction is supported by the Senate Department for Health and Education. "It is important to me to counteract the development of addiction as early as possible and to support people who are already addicted on their path to overcoming their illness," said Health Senator Ina Czyborra. "That's why we are supporting the Caritas Association's special city-wide services for behavioral addictions."