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Video games that are tackling mental health issues

nytimes.com

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Re: Video games that are tackling mental health issues

#11

Post by alleyshack »

slothtrop wrote: post #3

Doesn't this sidestep the problem? We aren't lacking in games to cut stress. Arguably time away from videogames would help, and more time out in the world.

The article title is somewhat misleading; the point of the games described isn't simply to "cut stress".

Rather, the games variously work to raise awareness of mental illness; help people with mental illness cope by giving them protagonists and storylines they can relate to; provide role models and story structures for overcoming challenges related to mental illnesses; and improve overall mental health in a variety of ways from dancing in VR to mindfulness exercises to encouraging conversations with therapists.

edit: a word

Re: Video games that are tackling mental health issues

#12

Post by cflewis »

whalesalad wrote: post #2

I've been playing a lot of Stardew Valley lately, glad to see it mentioned in this article. The game in combination with with a sativa vape has made me much better equipped to deal with my own stress and anxiety caused by working so much.

Isn't Stardew Valley an anxiety creator? I haven't played it, but I'm deliberately not because I hear people talk having to plan their days to maximize the output of their crops and such. I really don't want to have a new virtual job to go with my real daytime job.

Re: Video games that are tackling mental health issues

#13

Post by ineedasername »

dvt wrote: post #8

Video games are a temporary panacea, if even that. Notice how no doctors, studies, or anything worthwhile was cited -- just self-reported anecdata. Nothing can replace well-trained mental health specialists (psychologists and psychiatrists), a solid support system (family, friends), healthy social environments (book club, church), and physical activity (a friendly soccer league, going on trips, exploring). "More vide…

As someone who deals with these sorts of health issues, I can speak from experience when I say that yes, doctors and proper medical treatment, therapists, etc are essential. However, video games also form a core aspect of my coping strategies, serving as an outlet and attention sink when my mind might otherwise be focused unproductively inward. As such, while they are no panacea, neither does their benefit have to be temporary. Like any other hobby, they can be a beneficial part of continuing treatment.

Re: Video games that are tackling mental health issues

#14

Post by selune »

For someone who might be interested in reading some research on the topic:

Videogames may help with anxiety. They may be used as a healthy alternative to otherwise compulsive behaviors (self-harm etc) and just as a general coping technique battling anxiety episodes[0] and also offer a healthy distraction for people suffering from PTSD[1] but it's not a 100% safe route, sometimes videogames may trigger even more anxiety, sometimes people will fall into compulsive/obsessive territory and develop an addiction (which will basically start a vicious loop of anxiety-compulsive gaming-more anxiety-more compulsive etc). I really like this article - [2], it looks broadly into the issue which is multi variable.

[0]: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/292142434_A_Randomi...

[1]: https://www.nature.com/articles/mp201723

[2]: https://slate.com/technology/2015/11/how-video-games-can-tea...

P.s. Regardless of their effectiveness as a psychotherapeutic tool, videogames which are dealing with mental health as their main theme and exposing these issues to wide audiences, are obviously very needed and important.

P.p.s. Hellblade is amazing, breathtaking and everyone should play it. Yes.

Re: Video games that are tackling mental health issues

#15

Post by selune »

cflewis wrote: post #12
whalesalad wrote: post #2

I've been playing a lot of Stardew Valley lately, glad to see it mentioned in this article. The game in combination with with a sativa vape has made me much better equipped to deal with my own stress and anxiety caused by working so much.

Isn't Stardew Valley an anxiety creator? I haven't played it, but I'm deliberately not because I hear people talk having to plan their days to maximize the output of their crops and such. I really don't want to have a new virtual job to go with my real daytime job.

I haven't played it too but from what I've read about it, I suspect it might cause a so called Tetris Effect when the game mechanics basically invades people's though patterns.[0] It can be used as a somewhat effective "distraction" for your brain during episodes of anxiety[1] helping to overcome it. So if someone is planning their crops, they're probably just distracting themselves from anxious thoughts. Just my understanding from reading the article and different opinions of players.

Anecdotal: a friend of mine used to play some casual mobile game for quite some time (Candy Crush or something), she told me once that when she was giving birth she involuntarily started to "play" the game in her mind when the stress and pain became too strong, she said it helped her both to distant herself and to focus. :)

[0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetris_effect

[1]: https://www.nature.com/articles/mp201723

Re: Video games that are tackling mental health issues

#16

Post by golemiprague »

I have found that playing active games that makes you move helps a lot. Things like wii sport or kinect type of games. You don't need a fancy machine, just buy an old wii or xbox 360 in ebay with a bundle of sport games. Many depressed people don't want to go out to gym or even to the street for a walk, having something at home that makes you move and forget the world arounds you helps a lot.

Re: Video games that are tackling mental health issues

#17

Post by seba_dos1 »

While we're here, I'd like to mention these little indie gems on the topic:

https://holypangolin.itch.io/karambola (it's free, but you can donate)

https://pigmentumgamestudio.itch.io/indygo ($4.79)

(full disclosure: I helped a bit with some technical aspects of Karambola)

Re: Video games that are tackling mental health issues

#18

Post by drdrey »

cflewis wrote: post #12
whalesalad wrote: post #2

I've been playing a lot of Stardew Valley lately, glad to see it mentioned in this article. The game in combination with with a sativa vape has made me much better equipped to deal with my own stress and anxiety caused by working so much.

Isn't Stardew Valley an anxiety creator? I haven't played it, but I'm deliberately not because I hear people talk having to plan their days to maximize the output of their crops and such. I really don't want to have a new virtual job to go with my real daytime job.

I used to play it and enjoyed maximizing revenue on my farm. My daughter does basically no farming, instead she likes to interact with the villagers and do other things the game offers. The game does not hold your hand, you are free to enjoy whatever aspects works for you.

Re: Video games that are tackling mental health issues

#19

Post by Wowfunhappy »

TravisDick wrote: post #9
slothtrop wrote: post #3

Doesn't this sidestep the problem? We aren't lacking in games to cut stress. Arguably time away from videogames would help, and more time out in the world.

I haven't read the article, but there have been a number of games that I found personally helpful. It's not that they're helpful because they provide an escape from real life and its problems. Instead, they can be a source of meaningful dialogue about common problems, and they can help us to see that we are not isolated and that our troubles are not as impossibly unique as they might feel. After a quick skim, I haven…

Celeste is mentioned in the article.
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