Children living in game series

The tragic incident in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, where three minor sisters committed suicide by jumping from the top of a flat, highlights a dangerous mental state seen among children who feel lonely even while living with their parents. It shows how some children create isolated emotional worlds for themselves and seek refuge in fantasy, away from real life. The sisters were reportedly deeply addicted to the Korean online game series. Police say they were upset after their father took away their mobile phones. In their suicide note, the girls wrote, 'Didn’t you understand how dear this game was to us? Sorry, Papa…' This single line has now become a warning to parents who are caught up in the pressures of life and fail to notice what their children are going through emotionally.

The eldest sister, Nishika, was only 16 years old. Her younger sisters, Prachi and Pakhi, were 14 and 12 years old respectively. The girls reportedly called each other by Korean names and believed they were Korean princesses. Since the Covid period, all three had stopped going to school and were staying at home, fully absorbed in mobile games. There were reports that the family was under financial stress due to debts, but police believe that these issues were not the reason behind the suicide. Instead, investigators say the children’s deep emotional attachment to the virtual world played a key role. The parents were reportedly unaware of how deeply their daughters were immersed in this fantasy world. About ten days ago, the father took away their phones, an act that the children may have felt was equal to destroying their entire world.

Experts say that when children do not feel enough love, care, or attention at home, they often create a world of their own and begin to live fully within it. Even if such a world appears insignificant to adults, it may be the very reason the child feels like living. The family lived in Bharat City Apartments in Ghaziabad, and the Shalimar Garden police are continuing their investigation. The reason why the children had not attended school for over two years also remains unclear. One thing, however, seems clear. As parental attention and affection faded, the sisters found comfort and happiness in mobile games and gradually became completely addicted. They not only spent all their time playing these games but also imagined themselves as characters from them and behaved accordingly.

Korean game series are among the most popular online games among children today. Mental health experts warn that many children in Kerala are also regular users of such games. Until now, most concerns were limited to eye strain and other physical health issues caused by excessive mobile use. However, this incident shows that addiction to such games can be as dangerous as substance abuse, where the inability to access them can push children towards extreme steps like suicide. The suicide note left behind by the three sisters stands as a powerful reminder to all parents: pay attention to how your children are living at home. Find time to love them, care for them, talk to them, and understand them. You must be their shelter.