Edition 2 Therapeutic Gaming: A New Era for Mental Health
Levelling up mental health care with video games? It’s not just a fantasy anymore. From tapping into online gaming communities for wellness to FDA-approved biofeedback tools, gaming is pushing the boundaries of care. As mental health and gaming converge, we’re entering a new frontier where entertainment meets therapy. Let’s dive into the latest developments and what they mean for the future of digital health.
VP Product Operations & Strategy, PlaySpace
CGDHI Researcher Taps Power of Online Gaming Communities to Improve Mental Health
COVID-19 pushed many of us deeper into the digital world, but for some, online spaces have long been a second home. Virtual communities like those in MMORPGs, such as World of Warcraft, offer rich social environments that mirror real-life interactions, including friendships and even relationships (I mean, who hasn't heard of someone meeting their future spouse through a game raid?). Dr. Michelle Colder Carras is now leveraging these online worlds to improve mental health by integrating therapy into familiar, thriving digital spaces where people already hang out.
Instead of trying to pull people into clinical settings, this approach meets them where they already are—online. It's a promising shift that acknowledges the therapeutic potential of virtual communities, backed by growing research.?The future of online community-driven wellness is exciting, and it’s nice to see research finally catching up to what many of us have known since we first set foot in a virtual tavern.
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Specially Designed Video Games May Benefit Mental Health of Young People
We're seeing more and more studies exploring purpose-built games and their therapeutic potential. Some have shown promising early results—but they’re not quite perfect yet. The key challenge is balancing game engagement with meaningful mental health benefits, which will require trial and error, like any good science.
Now, let’s talk about screen time. Yes, video game addiction is a real concern, but therapeutic games are a whole different story. These aren’t your typical endless gaming sessions—they’re structured, with clear goals and time limits. As more research rolls in, it’ll be exciting to see how these tools can fit into a clinician's toolbox to get the best outcomes for their clients.
DeepWell DTx Receives FDA Clearance For Its Therapeutic Video Game Developer Tools
The big headline in digital health? DeepWell’s biofeedback software development kit just got the green light for over-the-counter use, meaning that patients can use its games as a supplement to other treatments for stress or hypertension. This is a major milestone for the acceptance of digital tools as part of a holistic treatment plan, opening the door to better health outcomes through innovative tech. While a few digital tools have already made their way into your benefits package (even if they’re not officially “medical devices”), getting more of these covered is a win for everyone. Why? Because more options mean more personalized care—after all, no two people are the same.
What’s really fascinating is that even games not specifically designed for therapeutic use can still offer therapeutic benefits. And with more research focusing on this, we're on the cusp of blending entertainment with wellness in ways that go beyond just having fun. DeepWell is currently approved to help treat stress and hypertension, but they’ve got big plans to expand into even more areas. This is just the beginning of a whole new frontier in health tech, and I can’t wait to see where it leads.
Are you already incorporating games into your work? If so, I’d love to hear how it’s working for you.