Mental health issues have been an increasing problem in current society, especially for young people. The rise of video games introduces a new way of tackling these problems, but some times it can be hard to draw a line between fun and obsession.
I’ve struggled with mental health issues for nearly two decades, and I’ve been playing games for longer. I hid myself in games at about 14 and for a few years it took over my life.
Games give us an escape, they allow us to be things we don’t think we can be in reality.
This can be a good thing and games are a force for good in general. They can motivate and inspire you tremendously, but games can also have negative effects if their consumption is left unchecked.
In my case, I hid myself from the world. At the time I was okay with what I was doing because I had games to distract me. I missed out on a lot of opportunities as a teenager because it was easier for me to distract myself and enjoy games while doing the bare minimum I had to at school and with my family and friends.
It wasn’t all bad and I’ve made friends that I’ll have for life through the tournaments I attended later in life and I’ve gained skills and creativity I never would have otherwise, I wouldn’t change that for the world.
I would also never give up games, they’re a part of my life and have made me who I am today.
Studies are starting to show that games can help greatly with mental health when consumed appropriately and I will always be an advocate for it. People can relate to characters and their stories through games and are a great source of inspiration.
It’s easy to see why people dislike games for their addictive properties, especially in children, but as mental health awareness rises, so will the awareness of the benefits games can provide to people.
It’ll take time but as our era becomes more digital, the applications for games to be utilised in all areas not just as entertainment but as educational and support tools will be advanced dramatically.
Are there games, tools or charities based around games that you know of and think are worth sharing? Let me know and I’ll be sure to look into them.
Tyrs' Gaming News 