Hello Commanders,
I’m starting this thread in response to some discussions I’ve had with fellow Commanders, and after a number of personal stories I’ve seen on various Elite: Dangerous-related social media channels recently.
(Excuse the length of this post, but I feel it’s an important topic.)
Mental health issues affect about 1 in every 4 to 5 people around the world each year. Anybody can be affected. If we take an average figure of c. 8,500 people playing ED each month since February 2018 (based only on Steam Charts), this means close to 1,700 of the Commanders we share the galaxy with in any given month are suffering, or are likely to suffer from mental health issues at some point during their lives. Many more of us will be affected indirectly through friends, partners or family members who have struggled with mental illness.
On the upside, there is a lot of evidence showing that gaming can help people deal with challenges associated with depression, anxiety, trauma and other related conditions. From my own experience and discussions with other Commanders, I know that playing ED can promote mental well-being for some people who otherwise are struggling, helping them be more resilient in times of difficulty.
For example: A common symptom of mental health issues is a pervasive kind of executive dysfunction – feeling overwhelmed and being incapable of getting through routine daily tasks. In my case, it may be that I should start something for work, but can’t even begin. Maybe I should exercise, but can’t get motivated. I should dress and eat, but can’t even get out of bed. I should ask someone for help, but feel exhausted at the idea of trying to explain what’s going on. That’s when switching off from the world and spacing out to Netflix or just surfing the web for hours on end seems so attractive – and then it’s very unlikely anything will get done. However, sometimes logging out from the real world for a little while is perfectly OK, and it can be a vital part of self-care, as long as it doesn’t turn into prolonged aimless escapism. This is where Elite: Dangerous comes in for me.
Being in the black on-line helps keep some of us out of the blackness that can seep into the rest of our lives. Due to the benefits of structured play, aspects of ED have much in common with elements of CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy): promoting relaxation, helping with focus, reducing stress, encouraging innovation, and stimulating brain activity. Apart from being an awesome way to spend time, just an hour or two of ED several times a week helps to keep me at a place where I can effectively tackle challenges in real life. From my time in conversation with others, I know it is the same for many other Commanders.
It’s not always easy to be open about mental health issues, and many of us who struggle from time to time feel it can be difficult to make positive friendships in-game. Mental ill-health is nothing to be embarrassed or unkind about, and its something we as a community can address in a small way, not least by remembering that there is a person behind the CMDR name on our screens who may be experiencing difficulty in their lives. So, I’m starting this thread to post links to articles and scientific papers about the benefits of gaming for people with mental health issues, and encourage us all to be aware that many of our fellow Commanders suffer from day to day.
If anyone wants to chat with me about any of this, feel free to message me. I have a private group in ED (Cmdr Conilocks) and I’m happy to add anyone, particularly any commanders who are affected by mental health issues and would like to get more out of the game as part of their self care. I’ve also started a Discord server (Elite Resilience) for anyone who wants to expand their in-game friendships, or share their experiences.
o7 to you all,
Coni
I’m starting this thread in response to some discussions I’ve had with fellow Commanders, and after a number of personal stories I’ve seen on various Elite: Dangerous-related social media channels recently.
(Excuse the length of this post, but I feel it’s an important topic.)
Mental health issues affect about 1 in every 4 to 5 people around the world each year. Anybody can be affected. If we take an average figure of c. 8,500 people playing ED each month since February 2018 (based only on Steam Charts), this means close to 1,700 of the Commanders we share the galaxy with in any given month are suffering, or are likely to suffer from mental health issues at some point during their lives. Many more of us will be affected indirectly through friends, partners or family members who have struggled with mental illness.
On the upside, there is a lot of evidence showing that gaming can help people deal with challenges associated with depression, anxiety, trauma and other related conditions. From my own experience and discussions with other Commanders, I know that playing ED can promote mental well-being for some people who otherwise are struggling, helping them be more resilient in times of difficulty.
For example: A common symptom of mental health issues is a pervasive kind of executive dysfunction – feeling overwhelmed and being incapable of getting through routine daily tasks. In my case, it may be that I should start something for work, but can’t even begin. Maybe I should exercise, but can’t get motivated. I should dress and eat, but can’t even get out of bed. I should ask someone for help, but feel exhausted at the idea of trying to explain what’s going on. That’s when switching off from the world and spacing out to Netflix or just surfing the web for hours on end seems so attractive – and then it’s very unlikely anything will get done. However, sometimes logging out from the real world for a little while is perfectly OK, and it can be a vital part of self-care, as long as it doesn’t turn into prolonged aimless escapism. This is where Elite: Dangerous comes in for me.
Being in the black on-line helps keep some of us out of the blackness that can seep into the rest of our lives. Due to the benefits of structured play, aspects of ED have much in common with elements of CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy): promoting relaxation, helping with focus, reducing stress, encouraging innovation, and stimulating brain activity. Apart from being an awesome way to spend time, just an hour or two of ED several times a week helps to keep me at a place where I can effectively tackle challenges in real life. From my time in conversation with others, I know it is the same for many other Commanders.
It’s not always easy to be open about mental health issues, and many of us who struggle from time to time feel it can be difficult to make positive friendships in-game. Mental ill-health is nothing to be embarrassed or unkind about, and its something we as a community can address in a small way, not least by remembering that there is a person behind the CMDR name on our screens who may be experiencing difficulty in their lives. So, I’m starting this thread to post links to articles and scientific papers about the benefits of gaming for people with mental health issues, and encourage us all to be aware that many of our fellow Commanders suffer from day to day.
If anyone wants to chat with me about any of this, feel free to message me. I have a private group in ED (Cmdr Conilocks) and I’m happy to add anyone, particularly any commanders who are affected by mental health issues and would like to get more out of the game as part of their self care. I’ve also started a Discord server (Elite Resilience) for anyone who wants to expand their in-game friendships, or share their experiences.
o7 to you all,
Coni
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