Video games are used by many as a passtime activity. Others use them to bond with friends. If you’re a parent, you probably want your child to play less virtual games and go outside. However some studies link video games with positive mental health.
According to a recent study by East Carolina University, playing games (like the popular smartphone games Bejeweled®) for 30 minutes per day can help alleviate clinical depression and anxiety. These effects can last up to one month after the games are played. This is at a level that rivals prescription medication.
PTSD has also been proved to be treatable by playing virtual games. In one study, patients who played Tetris had less flashbacks of horrific memories than those who didn’t.
Social interaction sounds like the exact thing that game players don’t do. But for people who suffer from extreme social anxiety, multiplayer games offer opportunities to interact with others- albeit virtually.
Older people sneer at video games, considering them appropriate for the young only. If you hold such an opinion you might want to change it. Gaming has been definitively linked to improved memory. In fact the more complex the game, the better.
These games can even make you smarter! Gamers have improved cognitive functioning compared to non-gamers. This functioning is applied by the brain in making complex decisions. So if virtual games are your jam, don’t feel guilty! Just be careful about the hours you play at a go.
There are games that have specifically been designed as counselling tools. One such game is SPARX. Adventures, quests and puzzles are used to teach skills to manage mental health. Players can customize their character(s) and embark on a journey to bring light back to the distressed fictionalized realm. The game is used to complement (not replace) counselling.
