New figures reveal a rise of 167% in game addicts, year-on-year, hooked on smash hits like Fortnite and Call Of Duty.
Surging numbers are looking for help, according to research by online services marketplace Bark.com, who say demand for private counsellors has increased by 65% since 2016.
Of those wanting help, 30% were parents wanting help for children.
The problem has rocketed recently, with the site not receiving a single request for gaming addiction counselling in the first half of 2016.
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GAMING: Video games such as Fortnite have become increasingly popular with children
“Gaming addiction is not something to be taken lightly and can have a devastating emotional impact”
Kai Feller
This comes in a year which saw gaming addiction classified as a mental health condition by the World Health Organisation.
In response, Bark.com has unveiled a guide to spotting the symptoms in others.
Kai Feller, co-founder of Bark.com, said parents were “struggling to see the signs.
“Gaming addiction is not something to be taken lightly and can have a devastating emotional impact.”
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