BANGKOK, 3 August 2014 – The Department of Mental Health has expressed concerns over sexual assault and premature sex in adolescents caused by sexual content in online media. Parents and the society are urged to help create immunity against addiction to sexual content online.
Psychiatrist from the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Rajanagarindra Institute MD Thiphawan Buranasin said teenagers who were addicted to sexual content online had higher risks to be sexually assaulted or engage in premature sex. They might also risk being infected with sexual diseases, getting pregnant and having an abortion, the psychiatrist warned.
One of the most concerned health issues among Thai teens was unintended pregnancy with adolescents younger than 15-16 years old having sexual intercourse for the first time, MD Thiphawan added.
The psychiatrist therefore suggested that parents should observe their children to see if they were addicted to online sexual media and learn more about technology so that they could help prevent the addiction.
