Games and Mental Health: Finding Balance
Date: 2024-06-10 Author: Robert Beloved Categories: EVENTS
Report by Dr. Jane Thomason
Dr. Jane Thomason, Chairman Emeritus of the World Metaverse Council, spoke at SiGMA Manila 2024, highlighting both the benefits and harms that gaming can bring.
Simple games help reduce stress and anxiety, strategy games promote creativity and social skills, and gamification introduces game mechanics into different areas to encourage learning and collaboration.
Negative consequences
However, some games may contain violence and inappropriate content, which increases the risk for young players. Gaming addiction is recognized by WHO and can lead to negative mental health consequences.
To maximize benefits and minimize harm, it is important to protect children from inappropriate content, ensure transparency in game mechanics, and educate people to use games mindfully.
Although the discussion focuses on video games, responsible gaming issues are also relevant to gambling and online gaming, highlighting the importance of an informed approach to all forms of gaming activity.
