Mark Zuckerberg Foundation to Build Selfitis-Treating Psychiatric Hospital in Makati

10/25/2014 – Manila | Makati City, the declared selfie capital of the world by Time Magazine earlier this March once again, is in international spotlight after the camp of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Friday that his foundation will build two hospitals in Makati and Taguig, in order to treat the increasing number of selfie addiction, known as selfitis,  in the area.

Selfitis, another term for selfie addiction is a suicidal mental and psychological disorder considered serious by American Psychiatric Association (APA). The agency said selfitis is deadly if not treated at an early stage. News about selfitis broke out following the original report of Adobo Chronicles; a reliable news website who first reported about the APA findings last March.

According to the original source, APA categorizes the level of selfitis as follows:

• Borderline selfitis : taking photos of one’s self at least three times a day but not posting them on social media
• Acute selfitis: taking photos of one’s self at least three times a day and posting each of the photos on social media
• Chronic selfitis: Uncontrollable urge to take photos of one’s self  round the clock and posting the photos on social media more than six times a day
•  HPD-selfitis: people who suffer this disorder always asks other people to like their photos or posts and unfriend them if rejected. This is one of the most serious cases of selfitis.

“There is only one reason why people took selfie and that is to get the attention of other people. Selfitis is related to Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD); a personality disorder wherein a person needs acknowledgement and excessive approval. Selfitis is not as serious as HPD at an early stage of the illness, but could be deadly if not diagnosed and treated immediately”, APA report says.

Although this is not welcoming news for Makati and Taguig residents who are not insane, selfie addicts are celebrating upon hearing the plan.

“At least Zuckerberg is taking responsibility for what he has done to people. There is no selfie addict if there is no Facebook”, selfie addict who is taking more than 10 photos of herself a day Malou Ang told the press.

On the contrary, Philippine Psychiatric Association Inc. (PPA) president Dr. Dina Berjen said that the move is extremely embarrassing rather than rewarding. She noted that parents of minors should prohibit their children from excessive use of computers and should not give their child smart phone that can access social media like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and others.

“It’s a shame when your city is known to the world as the City of friendly faces then suddenly turns into the City of retards”, Dr. Berjen, who is also a resident of Makati added.

The plan to build two hospitals is waiting for approval by the Philippine National Red Cross, the local foundation that will oversee the project.

“People who have selfie albums should think twice now before they continue to keep it and let themselves suspected as retards or delete the entire folder and transfer photos to their hard drives”, PPA added.

/Fanny Jalacjac/ Assisted Press Manila

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