A new initiative, the “Promoting the mental health of children and youth by addressing the risks of online gambling and gaming” project, has been launched to tackle the potential dangers linked to online gaming and gambling, particularly among young people. The project, co-funded by the European Union via its Technical Support Instrument, was unveiled this week at a conference in Rome, hosted by the Pompidou Group’s Italian Presidency. 

Experts in health, psychology, and public policy gathered alongside government representatives to explore strategies for mitigating youth addiction and the associated mental health risks. The discussion focused on parental training, preventive measures, and policy recommendations to ensure a safer digital environment for young users.

Key insights from the event include:

• Parental Training Needs: Herminio Correa of Parents International emphasised the importance of educating parents to recognise and address the risks of online gaming and gambling. (Video)
• Understanding the Problem and Finding Solutions: Dr. Orsolya Király from the Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, underlined the severity of online gaming and gambling issues while proposing targeted interventions. (Video)
• Comprehensive Analysis and Statistics: Sabrina Molinaro from the National Research Council of Italy provided an in-depth look at the issue, citing data from ESPAD (European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs) to illustrate the scale of the problem. (Video)