Using Digital Games to Educate and Destigmatize Mental Illness

Recent research conducted by media psychologists Dr. Marco Rüth, Raoul Bachmayer, and Professor Kai Kaspar from the University of Cologne highlights the potential of digital games in promoting mental health awareness. Their study demonstrates that digital games can effectively educate individuals—especially those without mental health conditions—about depression, helping them recognize symptoms and fostering empathy towards those affected.

The study, published in
Frontiers in Psychology, involved 117 participants who viewed excerpts from a depression-themed digital game. Afterward, they identified key aspects of the game that influenced them and reflected on how these experiences impacted their understanding of depression. Results showed that watching gameplay videos provided valuable insights into depression, such as the importance of a supportive environment, and elicited emotional responses like sadness, stress, and empathy.

Participants also expressed a strong motivation to learn about depression and believed digital games to be a relevant medium for psychoeducation. Interestingly, the study revealed that factors like gender, prior knowledge, and motivation significantly influenced perceptions; males with less knowledge and lower motivation exhibited higher stigmatization of depression.

The findings indicate that digital games could serve as powerful tools for psychoeducation and destigmatization, reaching broad audiences due to their popularity. However, the researchers emphasize that further studies are needed to explore optimal engagement strategies, such as narrative complexity and emotional intensity.

Overall, this study underscores the promising role of digital games in changing perceptions and increasing understanding of mental health issues, presenting new avenues for mental health interventions and awareness campaigns.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-digital-games-mental-illness.html