Mental health is a huge issue in our society these days, and many people are turning to games for help. But do these online games work as therapy? Let’s take a look at the evidence.
- The team behind Online Mental Health Reviews is highly qualified to write about mental health therapy games online and their effectiveness in treating mental health disorders.
- This team has designed a mental health app that features a renowned therapist who has helped transform the lives of individuals with mental health disorders.
- They take great care in their writing and hold themselves to high standards to ensure the information they provide is reliable and up-to-date.
- More importantly, they buy and try the services they review, meaning they have firsthand experience with the services they recommend, providing detailed insights to their readers.
This combination of experience, qualifications, and commitment to quality make them perfect candidates to provide a comprehensive review of mental health therapy games online and how they can help those seeking support, such as providing mental health resources for educators.
Of course, games are not great for mental health – but games don’t have to be bad either. Some of the games listed below provide a modest beneficial effect on your mental health.
The best thing you can do for your mental health is learn to meditate and get more sleep, but games are fun and easier to learn!
Surprising Benefits of Mental Health Therapy Games Online
1. Exercising Your Brain – One of the most important benefits of playing mental health therapy games online is that they can help you exercise your brain. Regularly using mental health therapy games can help strengthen your memory and other cognitive functions, which can lead to better overall mental well-being.
2. Improving Concentration – Mental health gaming has also been proven to improve concentration, focus, and problem-solving skills. It’s widely accepted that regular gaming helps improve these skills, which can ultimately lead to a better quality of life.
3. Reducing Stress and Anxiety – Another benefit of mental health therapy games online is that they can help reduce stress and anxiety levels in people who suffer from mental health issues like depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Studies have shown that playing these types of games can be slightly therapeutic, which leads to reduced levels of stress and anxiety over time.
4. Increasing Self-confidence – Finally, playing mental health therapy games online has been known to slightly increase self-confidence among players who suffer from low self-esteem or social anxiety disorder (SAD). By being successful in the game and completing tasks with positive results, players will naturally feel a little bit better about themselves and their capabilities as individuals.
What kinds Of Games Are Good For Mental Health?
Playing games can be a great way to improve your mental health. Many different types of games can help with mental health, such as:
- Mindfulness Exercises – These exercises focus on being present in the moment and can help reduce stress and anxiety.
- Puzzle Games – Puzzle games like Tetris or Sudoku can help to keep your mind active and engaged, while also providing a sense of accomplishment when you complete them.
- Adventure Games – Adventure games like Celeste or Animal Crossing: New Horizons provide an immersive experience that can help you escape from reality for a while and relax.
- Educational Games – Educational games like “School Stuff” or “Communication” can help to increase your knowledge about mental health topics, while also providing an entertaining experience.
- Non-Dominant Hand Day – This game requires you to use your non-dominant hand for everyday tasks, which helps to challenge your brain and keep it active.
- Find a Hidden Object – This game requires you to find hidden objects in pictures or scenes, which helps to keep your mind sharp and focused on the task at hand.
- Test Your Memory – Memory games like matching cards or memorizing words can help to increase your memory recall skills and sharpen your cognitive abilities.
- Short Story Writing – Writing short stories is a great way to express yourself creatively and explore different ideas or concepts related to mental health topics.
- Mental Illness Myths & Reality – Learning about myths related to mental illness can help you better understand the realities of living with mental illness, as well as dispel any false information that may be circulating it.
How to find Therapy Games For Kids, Adults, Teens, & Groups
Online therapy games, such as the mental health mobile game tool provided in the Talkspace Teen Therapy plan, are a great way to help people of all ages work through mental health issues. Whether you’re looking for games for kids, adults, teens, or groups, there are plenty of options available.
Here’s how to find the best therapy games for your needs:
- Identify what type of therapy you need. Different types of therapy require different types of games, so it’s important to know what type of therapy you’re looking for before you start searching. Examples include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills groups, play therapy, problem-solving groups, and anger management, groups.
- Research the types of games available for each type of therapy. Once you’ve identified the type of therapy that’s right for you or your group, research the types of games that are available and which ones might be most beneficial. Sources like The Counseling Palette and Play Therapy Supply can provide helpful information on different types of games and activities that can be used in various therapies.
- Find a game that is tailored to your specific needs. Depending on the age group or type of issue being addressed in therapy, different games may be more appropriate than others. Sometimes you need an ice breaker fame is you aren’t sure how to talk to someone about mental health.
- Consider purchasing certified products from reputable sources when possible. While there are many free resources available online related to therapeutic activities and games, it is important to consider purchasing certified products from reputable sources when possible as these will often have been tested and proven effective in therapeutic settings by professionals in the field.
Free Interactive Art Tools For Mental Health And Creativity
Certainly, here’s a list of art therapy mobile apps with a brief description and links to download:
- Art of Therapy – This app offers a variety of drawing prompts and other tools to help users express themselves creatively and work through emotional challenges. Available for download on iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/art-of-therapy/id1454412568
- Coloring Therapy – An adult coloring book app, Coloring Therapy provides a relaxing and calming experience, with over 100 different coloring pages with various difficulty levels. Available for download on iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/coloring-therapy/id1093108529
- Breathr – With Breathr, users can engage in soothing breathing exercises that promote relaxation and mindfulness. The app includes a range of breathing techniques, with options for users to customize their experience. Available for download on iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/breathr-meditation-breathing/id1223226880
- Moods: Art Journaling – This app allows users to create a digital art journal, with prompts and templates to inspire creativity and self-reflection. Available for download on iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/moods-art-journaling/id1457717455
- Happify – Happify is a mental health app that uses games and activities to promote positive thinking and emotional well-being. The app includes a feature called “Happify Paints,” which allows users to create digital art to express their emotions. Available for download on iOS and Android: https://www.happify.com/.
Overall, there are many different art therapy mobile apps available for download, each with its own unique features and tools to help users express themselves creatively, cope with emotional challenges, and promote mental health and well-being.
About DBT Board Game for Mental Health
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) board games are a great way to help people struggling with mental health.
DBT board games feature more than 60 prompts that can help players learn and practice skills such as mindfulness, emotional problem-solving, self-validation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
- The Game of Real Life is a one-of-a-kind card game rooted in DBT that uses mindfulness to teach these skills. The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Card Deck presents 52 practices to help you balance your emotions and manage stress.
- Talk Is Good is another full game board, that includes a 96-page pocket guide with instructions for gameplay and more information on DBT’s life-changing skills.
- DBT Skills Bingo is an interactive game that helps start conversations about DBT skills and can be used by any age group or individual.
- The Dime Game is also taught in Interpersonal Effectiveness and helps people consider their options from low-intensity states of mind.
Overall, there are many different types of DBT board games available that can help people struggling with mental health learn important coping skills in a fun way.
About Feelings Candy World Game For Mental Health
Feelings Candy World is a free telehealth game1 that plays similarly to the classic board game, Candy Land. The game uses colors to represent different emotions, and it can be used in counseling sessions to help children identify feelings and attach them to experiences.
Playing games like these can be an effective way for people of all ages to learn more about their mental health and how they can manage it better in person therapy themselves. If you’re looking for ways to help yourself or someone else understand mental health better, give one of these games a try!
DIY Therapy Cards
Are you looking for a way to improve your mental health? DIY Therapy Cards are an easy and fun way to help you do just that!
- DIY Therapy Cards are conversation cards designed to help you and your friends get down to what makes you tick, twitch, and laugh at yourselves. You can find these cards in many places, such as online stores like Amazon or TableTopics.com.
- MyTherapyCards.com also offers Teen Edition cards specifically designed for the classroom and therapy office for teachers and therapists to use with their students and clients.
- Etsy is another great place to search and find unique therapy cards, such as Dog Card, DIY Therapy Animal Trading Card, and therapy cat cards.
Relationship Skills Card Game
Relationship Skills Card Games are an interactive way to build and improve relationships.
These games can help you learn important skills such as empathy, trust-building, communication, self-awareness, social awareness, and responsible decision-making. They come in different forms such as board games, card and play board games, and printable activities.
Examples of popular Relationship Skills Card Games include:
- 52 Essential Emotional Intelligence Training – Relationship Skills Card Game for Empathy, Trust Building Activities, Conversation Starters, Icebreaker Tools
- Tune In Tune Up: The Relationship Skill-Building Game
- The Social and Emotional Competence Board and Card Game Bundle
- Breaking Through: The Relationship Repair Game
- Self Help Hipster Review: Relationship Reveal Card Game
- Printable: SEL Skills Card Game
- The Getting Real Card Game
These games can be used by individuals or groups to introduce and practice relationship skills in a fun way.
They provide a safe space to explore emotions and practice communication techniques with others. By playing these games regularly you can become more aware of your own feelings and better able to understand the feelings of others.
What Fun Activities Help With Mental Health?
Mental health is an important part of overall well-being. Fortunately, many fun activities can help improve mental health.
- From jogging or walking to dancing, biking, or swimming, physical activity can lead to positive effects on mental health.
- Other activities such as yoga, pilates, tai chi, or Nordic walking can also be beneficial for mental health.
- Additionally, tracking gratitude and achievement with a journal can help boost your mental health.
- Learning the skill of mindfulness meditation can be applied to every single activity so it’s worthwhile to invest in some basic mindfulness training.
- Finally, connecting with loved ones and practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing can also help improve your mental health.
What Are 5 Mental Health Activities?
Mental health activities can help to reduce stress, build resilience, and improve overall well-being.
- Examples of mental health activities include yoga, journaling, spending time in nature, art therapy, and music therapy.
- Additionally, there are five steps to mental well-being that you can take: connecting with other people; being physically active; giving yourself; learning how to deal with stress; and taking notice of the world around you.
- You can also practice self-care by treating your child or yourself to an aromatherapy bath or adult coloring books.
- Other activities for mental health awareness include getting plenty of sleep (ideally 8 hours per night), stopping to enjoy the moment, practicing mindfulness exercises for children, and understanding myths and realities about mental illness.
- Finally, you can also try Sudoku puzzles or other brain games as a way to quiet your mind and relax.
These activities are all great ways to maintain your mental health and well-being. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or need additional support, it’s important to reach out for help from a healthcare professional or trusted friend/family member.
Are Brain Games Good For Mental Health?
Brain games are a great way to improve your mental health. Studies have shown that playing brain games can help with memory, reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s, and increase attention span, reaction time, and mental agility.
However, according to a Large-Scale, Cross-Sectional Investigation Into the Efficacy of Brain Training2, which states “individuals who undertake commercially available brain training regimes for long timescales gain benefits that transfer in a limited way to other computerized tasks.”
Brain games such as Sudoku, crosswords, and jigsaw puzzles can also help to exercise both the left and right sides of the brain at once. They require logic, intuition, and problem-solving skills which can help to boost cognition.
However, it is important to note that brain games alone won’t improve cognitive function. It is important to also engage in other activities such as physical activity and socializing in order to maintain good mental health.
If you are struggling with mental health issues, it is important to seek professional help from a doctor or therapist. Brain games can be a great supplement for improving your mental health but should not be used as a replacement for professional medical advice or treatment.
What Are 5 Brain Games For Mental Health?
If you are looking for ways to improve your mental health, brain games can be a great way to get started. Brain games are activities that challenge your cognitive abilities and help keep your mind sharp. Here are five of the best brain games for mental health:
- Sudoku – This classic game is a great way to exercise your problem-solving skills and sharpen your memory. It also helps with concentration, logical thinking, and pattern recognition.
- Crosswords – Crosswords are an excellent way to stimulate your brain and improve your vocabulary. They also help with problem-solving, reasoning, and critical thinking skills.
- Lumosity – Lumosity is an online brain training program that offers a variety of cognitive exercises designed to boost memory, attention, problem-solving skills, and more.
- Elevate – Elevate is another online brain training program that offers over 40 different mini-games designed to improve language skills, math skills, focus, processing speed, and more.
- Happy Neuron – Happy Neuron is an online program that provides personalized cognitive training exercises designed to improve memory, concentration, problem-solving skills, and more.
These five brain games can help you stay mentally fit while improving your overall mental health in the process!
Are Brain Games Good For Depression?
Brain games have been studied as a potential treatment for depression, and the results are promising.
A study by researchers at the Birkbeck University of London found evidence that regularly practicing a tricky online memory game can improve mental health in teenagers who are vulnerable to depression and anxiety3.
Playing games can also help people struggling with mental health issues by increasing self-confidence, physical energy, and positive emotions.
Additionally, making sure your brain is getting all the nutrients it needs can reduce your risk of developing depression.
Overall, there is evidence that brain games can be beneficial for those struggling with depression or other mental health issues. It’s important to remember that these games should be used in combination with other treatments such as therapy and medication prescribed by a doctor.
However, as we cautioned above, the effects might be minimal. But hey, they won’t harm and can be fun. Free too!
Mental Health Therapy Games Online Conclusion:
Overall, there is evidence that suggests that playing mental health therapy games online can indeed have positive effects on our minds and bodies if used correctly as part of an overall treatment plan for a person or those suffering from mental illness or just feeling down in general.
But the effects might not be that big. But hey, they won’t hurt and can be fun. Also free!
Of course, not all online games should be considered “therapy” so it’s important to understand the difference between entertainment and therapeutic activities before engaging in any type of gaming activity related to your mental health.
However, if used responsibly, these types of activities could be beneficial for those struggling with their own emotions and feelings daily!
Sources
- Feelings Candy World – Free Telehealth Game | Pathwaystopeace. (n.d.). Pathwaystopeace. https://www.pathwaystopeacecounseling.com/product-page/feelings-candy-world-free-telehealth-game
- Hampshire, A., Sandrone, S., & Hellyer, P. J. (2019, July 9). A Large-Scale, Cross-Sectional Investigation Into the Efficacy of Brain Training. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2019.00221
- Beloe, P., & Derakshan, N. (2019, April 22). Adaptive working memory training can reduce anxiety and depression vulnerability in adolescents. Developmental Science, 23(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/desc.12831
