Technological Addiction Takes Center Stage at Urban Mental Health Conference in Newark
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Technological Addiction Takes Center Stage at Urban Mental Health Conference in Newark
NEWARK – More than 150 medical professionals, students, community leaders, and advocates attended the Seventh Annual Urban Mental Health Conference on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS) in Newark, New Jersey.
The theme of this year’s Urban Mental Health Conference was technological addiction.
“Technological addiction is emerging as a new frontier in our field,” said Dr. Petros Levounis, chair of the department of psychiatry at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. “This conference gave medical experts and participants an opportunity to discuss scientific evidence and ask profoundly thought-provoking questions.”
“The signs of a technological addiction may be difficult to identify, especially in young people. After all, spending hours in front of screens every day is quickly becoming the norm,” said Dr. James Sherer, a third-year resident in the department of psychiatry at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. “Knowing when to treat technological addictions, and when not to treat them, will be a point of discussion in the mental health community for years to come.”
The Seventh Annual Urban Mental Health Conference featured a variety of esteemed panelists, including Drs. Petros Levounis, James Sherer, Rafael Coira, Heather Wurtz, Donya Nazery, and more.
Panelists presented updates on a wide range of technological addictions, such as internet gaming, cybersex, online shopping, and social media. The conference also gave attendees the opportunity to earn CME credits.
The organizers of this year’s Urban Mental Health conference chose the theme of technological addiction, due to the profound impact the problematic use of technology can have on an individual’s mental health and well-being, including those who live in urban communities, such as the areas served by NJMS.
Electronic communication has connected families, strengthened friendships, and even sparked marriages. Yet for some, a reliance on electronic devices can have unintended consequences.
Signs and symptoms of a technological addiction include:
“We are at the cusp of a new era of diagnosis and treatment of people who suffer from technological addiction,” Dr. Levounis added. “Most people do not know, or believe, that an all-encompassing obsessive use of social media, texting, sexting, emailing, gaming, gambling, or e-baying can lead to a bona fide addiction. This conference creates opportunities for experts to develop new solutions to treat these emerging psychiatric conditions.”
To learn more about the medical experts and panelists featured at this year’s Urban Mental Health Conference, click here.
To learn more about Dr. Levounis, Dr. Sherer, and outreach and research efforts led by the department of psychiatry at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, click here.
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| About Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Founded in 1954, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School is the oldest school of medicine in the state. Today it is part of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and graduates approximately 170 physicians a year. In addition to providing the MD degree, the school offers MD/PhD, MD/MPH and MD/MBA degrees through collaborations with other institutions of higher education. Dedicated to excellence in education, research, clinical care and community outreach, the medical school comprises 20 academic departments and works with several healthcare partners, including its principal teaching hospital, The University Hospital. Its faculty consists of numerous world-renowned scientists and many of the region’s “top doctors.” Home to the nation’s oldest student-run clinic, New Jersey Medical School hosts more than 50 centers and institutes, including the Public Health Research Institute Center, the Global Tuberculosis Institute and the Neurological Institute of New Jersey. For more information please visit: njms.rutgers.edu, or find us on social media. #NJMSProud |
