# Want to Start a Non-Profit Addressing Internet Addiction & Mental Health **URL:** \ **Category:** Health\ **Tags:** idea, health, activism, gaming, social-media\ **Created:** [April 26, 2019, 9:57pm UTC](https://community.humanetech.com/t/want-to-start-a-non-profit-addressing-internet-addiction-mental-health/3964 "2019-04-26T21:57:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![natful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cdc98d/32.png) [@natful](https://community.humanetech.com/u/natful)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2019, 9:57pm UTC](https://community.humanetech.com/t/want-to-start-a-non-profit-addressing-internet-addiction-mental-health/3964/1 "2019-04-26T21:57:13Z")
Hello Humane Tech Community, I am new to this site and have been doing some research to try to understand what exists in terms of organizations addressing internet/gaming addiction and the issues surrounding social media/tech use and mental health & self-image. I am about to receive a Master’s degree in the biomedical sciences and through interacting with many colleagues, psychologists and healthcare professionals, I have come to realize that internet/tech addiction is still virtually unknown to clinicians and the public. Being in the research triangle (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) of North Carolina, I have had an awakening that I would like to start up a non-profit that addresses these issues initially on a local level, and perhaps later in a more widespread fashion. Personally, I watched my brother struggle with internet/gaming addiction in which he went through two rounds of rehabilitation at the only internet addiction rehab site in the country (that is a whole other issue that needs to be addressed). I have many personal ties to professionals in the field of tech addiction and I have realized it is my calling to spread awareness of this issue and help those that are struggling to connect with resources. I would love any input about this idea and if anyone has knowledge of starting their own non-profit, I would love to connect. I am passionate about getting this up and going but I am concerned about where to seek funding and am only in the initial stages of reaching out to like-minded individuals and organizations. Wishing you all the best! ---
**Author:** ![healthyswimmer](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/community.humanetech.com/healthyswimmer/32/229_2.png) [@healthyswimmer](https://community.humanetech.com/u/healthyswimmer)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 5:23am UTC](https://community.humanetech.com/t/want-to-start-a-non-profit-addressing-internet-addiction-mental-health/3964/2 "2019-04-27T05:23:16Z")
I’ve heard there are many internet/gaming addiction centers in South Korea (I think?). Perhaps you could visit these places and shadow professionals. I see out of country professionals visit the university hospital I work at all the time…