Lucknow: Three days after the death of 18-year-old boy, who allegedly died by suicide while playing an online game, his devastated parents have spoken about their loss. The incident has once again brought forth the dangers of gaming addiction among teenagers.The boy, originally from Bahera village in Azamgarh, lived with his family in Gomtinagar Extension. His father, a medical representative, recalled how they once believed gaming was a harmless stress-buster. “We thought a little entertainment would ease his study pressure, but we never imagined it would take his life,” he said, breaking down. His mother, who was away at her parental home at the time of the incident, recounted her last conversation with him.
“When I told him to sleep, he said, ‘Mummy, last game.’ I thought he would study in the morning. But when his door didn’t open the next day, everything was over,” she wept, fainting repeatedly while meeting relatives. On the morning of Aug 21, the boy was found hanging in his room. A suicide note recovered from the spot mentioned stress linked to both gaming and academics. Neighbours said he rarely stepped outside and spent most of his time on mobile games, often discussing gaming strategies with friends.
Police have seized his mobile phone and are analysing its digital trail to identify the game he was playing and whether any online provocation contributed to his drastic step. Meanwhile, psychologists warn that online gaming addiction is emerging as a serious mental health crisis, causing stress, irritability and sleep deprivation among children. They advise parents to monitor screen time, seek counselling when warning signs appear, and treat excessive gaming as a red flag rather than harmless recreation.
