Video Games Could Hold Untapped Potential in Treatment of Mental Illness

Think video games are just entertainment? It might be time to take a second look at this popular hobby. A new paper suggests that video games might hold the key to providing affordable, stigma-free mental health treatment around the globe.

A report published in the journal JMIR Serious Games reviewed research on the impact of commercial video games on depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns. It found that there’s mounting scientific evidence supporting the potential for video games to improve mental health outcomes, especially for people who can’t access other types of treatment due to cost or location. That could give the world’s 2.7 billion gamers opportunities for major emotional wellness benefits.1

Are video games the future of mental health treatment? Here’s what the latest research shows.