Video Games And Mental Health - Are They Linked? Skip to content Click here to check out the GameByte Shop great games, consoles and more! Video Games And Mental Health – Are They Linked 8 April 20227 April 2022 by Christian Wait Video games and mental health management are rarely portrayed in a positive light in mainstream media and pop culture. The one thing the Covid-19 pandemic has taught us is that our health services are now under more strain than ever before, and so is our mental health. Depression and anxiety levels reached an all-time high in 2020 with the effects of lockdowns still being felt today from a child’s development to adults getting used to the forever changing new normals of modern-day life. Unfortunately, private health services know this too, and appointments are either hard to get or cost more, so people are now looking at alternative solutions to managing their mental health. Is gaming a sport?ADVERT ADVERT Video Games And Mental Health – A New Treatment We’re not medical professionals, and we wouldn’t dream of telling our readers to replace their treatment without seeking medical attention. However, there’s mounting evidence to suggest that video games could hold significant benefits for people looking for better ways to manage their mental health. Verywell Mind reported on a new journal titled “JMIR Serious Games”, a study of the impact of commercial video games on depression, anxiety and other mental health concerns. It turns out that video games improve mental health outcomes. It seems there’s mounting evidence to suggest the opposite of gaming disorder or gamer brain, conditions that are backed with little evidence. Here are The Facts According to the study, video games could help alleviate symptoms of depression such as the loss of pleasure. It states that games such as Minecraft and Animal Crossing: New Horizons fostered social connectedness and reduced loneliness.ADVERT ADVERT Glenn Platt, PhD, professor of emerging technology and director of the interactive media studies program at Miami University in Ohio, adds to the credibility of this study by stating the following: “Video games provide connection, a critical aspect of mental health, feeling like you are part of a community of like-minded people who value your participation and share your goal within the game. Isolation, as the authors’ outline, plays a significant role in anxiety and depressive disorders. The support of a community within a game ecosystem mitigates this” The study saw decreased anxiety levels too. People who played Plants vs. Zombies four times a week for around half an hour each session experienced better mental health outcomes than those who were taking prescribed medication. Let’s just take a second to realise how groundbreaking that really is.ADVERT ADVERT Credit: Pexels The full journal can be found here with the following subtitle: “A multidisciplinary journal on gaming and gamification including simulation and immersive virtual reality for health education/promotion, teaching, medicine, rehabilitation, and social change” Do you think video games can help with mental health management? Let us know on Twitter!ADVERT ADVERT The fighting in Ukraine is causing families to flee their homes. Please give now to save lives and protect people in need. Donate today! If any of the topics discussed in this article have negatively impacted you, there are people out there who can help. Safe in our WorldThe Calm ZoneMINDSamaritansRethinkMental Health AmericaADVERT ADVERT Featured Image Credit: Pexels TweetShareSharePin Follow us on @GameByte @gamebyte GameByte GameByte GameByte Noobs Play @GameByte @gamebyte GameByte GameByte GameByte Noobs Play External Links Policy GameByte Staff About GameByte Advertise with us Careers Ambassador Program Contact Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Manage Cookies Preferences Submit Your Content FragHero Sporf 9 to 5 Life Social Chain Social Chain Agency