Games are getting better and better at depicting mental illness respectfully. That helps us all.
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Mental illnesses are like Command & Conquer 4: People don’t like to talk about them, preferably not at all. Many people could be helped if we dealt with the topic more openly.
Gaming also helps – even twice. On the one hand, video games can improve understanding of mental illness if they portray it correctly. on the other hand Those affected can get to know themselves better in games.
In the podcast, Micha discusses what that means and what can go right or (very!) wrong when it comes to depicting mental illnesses in games:
- Rae Grimm, the editor-in-chief of GamePro, which specializes in games like Call of Duty. saved Warzone and Sea of Thieves from the pandemic and is now implementing a theme week on mental health in gaming together with the GamePro team:
All articles of the mental health theme week on GamePro.de
- Jolina Beringwho works as a psychologist on the Games and Psychology Podcast, among other things Behind the Screens contributes, gives advice on sports psychology and writes as a freelance author for GamePro, among others.
Warning: This podcast and Mental Health Week articles explore various aspects of mental health, including examples of negative emotions and unhealthy behaviors that can trigger negative reactions in some people.
Important NOTE: If you have depression or self-destructive thoughts yourself, you are not alone. Please get help. For example at the Europe Depression Aid on 0800/33 44 533 or at free counseling centers.
Together we’ll discuss why games like Call of Duty: Warzone (you read that right) or Destiny can help our mental health, what we learn about ourselves while playing, and what popular misconceptions there are about mental illness (no, psychosis and psychopathy is not the same thing).
We also go through a lot of examples like Celeste, Psychonauts 2, The Last of Us, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice or The Cat Lady and analyze how mental illnesses are portrayed in them. Rae also provides the indie titles The Average Everyday Adventures of Samantha Brown and Kind Words in front.
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