by Sorel Marceau
If gaming feels like the only thing that lets you unwind, or you’ve noticed your teen or loved one can’t seem to log off, you’re not imagining things. This is an unhealthy dynamic that needs to be addressed. Video games can provide many benefits, including structure, community, and stress relief. However, for some individuals–particularly teens and young adults–video games become excessive and cause harmful impacts on mood, motivation, and mental health.
Games weren’t meant to be used to cope with real-life challenges. This guide is here to provide an unbiased look at video games: the benefits of gaming and technology used mindfully, how gaming can negatively impact your mental health, including chronic depression.
Knowing when to put down the controller
Warning Signs of Unhealthy Gaming Video game playing behaviour can become problematic if it causes an individual to neglect responsibilities at home, school, or work. While many people enjoy gaming as a hobby, it can become addictive and unhealthy when played for hours on end without breaks. You might notice your friends, family, and loved ones skipping out on life’s duties, withdrawing from get-togethers, and prioritising playing video games over responsibilities.
You might also notice them being considerably more agitated, seemingly for no reason. Often, when you confront them about their excessive video game use, they flat-out lie in a way that you can poke holes through.
The surprising link between mental health and video games
Researchers warn that too much screen time and gaming can negatively impact mental health. Excessive gameplay, according to professional studies, can even cause sleep deprivation, which can turn into anxiety and deep depression. The dopamine rush from playing games can become quite addictive. For example, spending several hours or days to finally defeat a difficult boss, for example, in the Final Fantasy game series, can produce a sense of euphoria that gamers can’t get enough of.
That’s not to say that all games are bad. Some video games promote positive mental health and can work to help correct attention-deficit disorder, because these games are complex enough to require intense focus.
Encouraging family and loved ones to seek professional help
Believe it or not, many people lie about their emotional and mental state out of shame. Society still has a stigma surrounding mental health compared to other physical ailments or even chronic diseases. In Australia, it is estimated that over 3% are labelled with a gaming disorder. More concerning is that 10% of that 3% are estimated to be at risk of slipping into a hazardous situation.
If you can’t encourage your loved one, or in the case of a Macquarie University study that claims that Australians between 10 and 14 are dealing with gaming disorders, why not get the doctor to come to you? The continued advancements of Australian telehealth, especially for mental health issues, continue to improve.
Even for low-income families, the Commonwealth has heavily invested in Medicare and digital infrastructure to help Australians, including in remote areas, to get the timely care they need. Australian parents can take the initiative by reviewing different mental telehealth providers from reputable sites like Medicompare to better understand therapy online in Australia. This also goes for trying to help friends and loved ones.
It might be easier for a loved one or a child struggling with gaming disorders that are impacting their mental health to open up in a comfortable setting like home. A trained medical professional can diagnose issues and even recommend specialists, if needed, to help a loved one get back on track. For chronic depression or anxiety issues, a trained telehealth doctor can prescribe through telemedicine so you don’t have to go in person for medication.
However, the gems of telehealth for Australians are more frequent checkups and virtual support groups. Sometimes, a daily check-in can make all the difference in helping a loved one put down the controller and reclaim their life. Participating in virtual groups with other individuals who like them struggling with gaming disorders can help your child, friend, or loved one put down the game controller and reclaim their lives.
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