Do video games make depression deepen?
Or do video games help bring those suffering from depression well?
It turns out, both statements can be correct.
While much of the focus of video gaming these days tend to lean on violence, there are actually better things to study around the activity. The truth of the matter is, there is no causal relationship between the two and it’s an argument that simply needs to be laid to rest. There is, however, a relationship between video games and human health that I have come across before and I think it warrants our attention far more.
Video Games and Depression
Depression more specifically, but mental health, in general, is often overlooked and ignored — and it simply should not be (unfortunately, even more-so in the Church). While seeing the doctor about your thyroid or high blood pressure are openly discussed, mental health issues are met with soft whispers and those faced with depression are simply told to find “the joy of the Lord.”
I’ve read about video games and depression before and wish I could recall specifically where. Sharing those links would certainly help bolster this blog post and share with you more definitive points of my own journey of learning, but I, unfortunately, do not have those links.
Having watched this video below just a few days ago, I thought it summed up the subject very well, even without those links. The commentator is excellent and the objectivity is on point.
If you’re a gamer or love gamers, it’s a video you’ll want to watch:
[Video via YouTube]
Conclusion
By no means do I think gamers are more prone to depression than non-gamers. It is a fairly new medium enjoyed by a very large percentage of people both in and out of the Church, and I think it’s important for us to fully understand how we interface with technology.
Video games are a powerful medium, cannot be ignored, should not be discounted, and by fully understanding how they interface with the human condition, they can serve us well.
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