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Three reasons why gaming IS good for your mental health – BBC



Three reasons why gaming IS good for your mental health – BBC

Gaming can get a bad rep, but it’s not all doom and gloom!

Gaming can actually be beneficial for your mental wellbeing, here’s how to make sure gaming is good for your health – not bad!

Made in partnership with @oxforduniversity’s Social Sciences division

#BBCIdeas #Gaming #MentalHealth

BBC Ideas is a shortform factual video platform from the BBC. It brings together short factual videos from many sources, and organises the videos into playlists by topic.

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View 48 Comments

48 Comments

  9. @kayskreed on

    I think it depends on the period of your life znd types of games. When I was a kid and playing with my friends IRL, multiplayer games like SSB and Mario Kart were big hits. But as I grew older, and those in person gale nights became sparse, I found myself gravitating towards single player story driven games, be they action, adventure or RPG. I still game casually, once in a while not often, and I do enjoy it. It's gotten me through tough times and maximized the best times as well. But I must say, I respect companies that release full playable games without predatory tactics like microtransactions, loot boxes or live service models. Unfinished buggy games released at full price on release day, I don't think that's acceptable.

  11. @deenormus1975 on

    I’m a 49 y/o woman who started gaming w/my man a few years ago bc politics & hate was making me physically ill. Gaming makes me happy & gets me off soul sucking social media, allows me to take my frustrations out on imaginary characters & not people, makes me feel less sad, allows me to coordinate w/my partner in a positive way, improves hand/eye coordination & I feel accomplished after defeating the major baddie. Did I actually accomplish anything…maybe not, but I FEEL better. Gaming is beneficial for everyone

  13. @gss7271 on

    Individuality is based on exposure and interpretation. Reactions to video games vary, as many reactions as there are individuals.

  17. @jimy2x on

    It used to be but not now. Especially online gaming. The industry has become a greed machine/casino. This video has come 10 years to late. But nice video nonetheless.

  18. @Anthrocarbon on

    "Low volume to avoid waking up parents." Real gaming is being willing to miss half the dialogue because the save point is too far away to stop now. Besides, 4 hours of sleep is plenty, and we know we won't make mum late for work tomorrow.

    What a shame Microsoft bought so many studios then destroyed them this year. Please give some indie games a try. Within 5-10 years, "triple A" might become a distinction we use to describe cheats and scalpers building addictive store fronts.

  19. @astrafaan on

    Not paying your license is probably about the best thing for your mental health. Strange – they must have forgotten to turn the comments off on this one 😂

  28. @michaelscarlino1590 on

    Shocking as this might be to western viewers, this kind of practice happens in certain parts of the world to young girls all the time, think about it, eg according to UNICEF over 230 million little girls have genital mutilation, but the media will keep that quiet, so heartbreaking.

  30. @matthewhardwick8208 on

    Try and put most of your gaming time at the weekend. And only a couple of nights during the week depending on your mood / how your day went at school or work. Find a healthy balance that suits your lifestyle.

  35. @dylansearcy3966 on

    What a great and informative video. Not only was it informative but also entertaining and offering insight and a new perspective. The guy is passionate about his love of gaming

  37. @Mr.Coffee576 on

    It depends on the game. If you're playing something like Valorant which is addictive, then it's a waste of time unless you're aiming to be a pro. But if its something like Witcher 3 which is story rich and forces the player to make hard choices, not only its fun but you will grow as a person alongside the main character in the game you're playing.

  39. @Scripture-Man on

    Videogames fans are going to overlook this video because it doesn't say it's about videogames. The word "gaming" is a non-specific word usually associated with gambling and casinos. It's one thing to use the word "gaming" in a Scrabble magazine, a poker website, or a snooker video, since fans of those games understand that "gaming" is about the hobby in question. But If you're going to talk about a type of game or sport in mainstream media, you need to specify what type of gaming it is.

    I also find this 'activity-based' language odd. Videogames are creative works, not a physical activity like hiking or swimming. I'm a fan of "books, videogames and movies", NOT "booking, gaming and movie-ing". Please, let's get a grip on stupid language creeping into journalism.

  41. @Nemo71340 on

    The older I get the less time I have to play so more so now, I like playing story mode on games and completing a game. The online battle Royale stuff never ending stuff got old to me after a while. I do love the accomplishment of completing a game though I think it's great for your mental health. Especially a very challenging one.

  44. @stargazeronesixseven on

    😮🙏 It depends on what type of games we are playing , with whom we're playing with or against & for how long the durations we have to play these games! … Judging on today's youngsters' mental & physical health & the crime rates being gathered in around the world … We need to analyze the impacts on more wider spectrums & scopes … 🙏🕯🌏✌🕊

  45. @perihelion7445 on

    I'm not against the premise of the video title but I trust the Journalistic integrity of the BBC as much as I trust the knowledge base of a Palestinian protester.

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