Help
With the increased accessibility of porn on the internet, young people are at a higher risk for developing an addiction to porn than ever before. Porn addiction is especially worrying for children and teens, as their brains are still developing. It can cause emotional problems and possibly mental health issues if no action is taken.
When is the right time to discuss porn?
There is no doubt that it is scary being the first one to speak up, and by being willing to talk about it, you are hopefully starting a conversation which might be difficult, but ultimately it is the right thing to do. As a parent, partner, relative or friend who may think that a person they know has a problem with porn, you may want to approach them in a calm and non-judgmental fashion. You might start by asking the following questions:
- Have you ever viewed internet pornography? If so, when did you begin viewing it?
- How often do you watch it and for how long?
- Why do you watch internet pornography?
- When was the last time you viewed internet pornography?
It’s extremely important to maintain open communication and to make sure you both feel comfortable talking about the problem.
An appointment with a GP might be the next step or alternatively you could investigate some of the websites listed below.
KOOTH
Kooth is a free online service that offers emotional and mental health support for children and young people.
YOUNGMINDS
A leading UK charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people, a number of links to other services can be found here.
RELATE
If you want to talk to someone about a relationship and get some support, there are different ways that you can contact one of their counsellors.
https://www.relate.org.uk/relationship-help/talk-someone
Childline
One page dedicated to the issue of Porn and links to support.
https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/online-mobile-safety/online-porn/