Video game addiction is becoming more prevalent among teenagers.  A teen can be classified as addicted to video games if they are damaging and causing problems in multiple areas of their lives.  When video games are taken away, severe withdrawal symptoms can occur, such as depression.  Depression is a serious mental health issue that needs to be detected early.

Organizations like TeenScreen work to make depression screenings available in routine health care so that mental health issues can be identified early.  The screenings are offered in 46 states and lead to teen suicide prevention.  The screenings can be found through primary care providers, local schools and community-based sites.  TeenScreen is a firm believer that suicide prevention is a result of accurately identifying signs of mental illness in teens early on through these screenings.

A gaming addiction can also be caused by depression.  Teens use gaming to escape real-life problems and depression.  Depression screening can lead to suicide prevention as well as reduce the likelihood of developing an addiction.  According to WebMD, other warning signs of a gaming addiction are: playing for increasing amounts of time, thinking about gaming during other activities, lying to friends and family to conceal gaming, and feeling irritable when trying to cut down on gaming.