We Need To Talk About Gaming Mental Health

The gaming industry continues to grow every year. With gaming competitions growing larger, more and more viewers are checking in. But with more attention, talking about mental health is more important than ever.

Welcome back to Bold TV with Philip Michael. Be sure to like, comment, and subscribe to Bold TV for other gaming news, and all things Bold.

Joining Philip Michael today is the Chief Wellness Officer of the Misfit Agency, Carolyn Rubenstein. We talk all about gaming and mental health

How did gaming blow up and become this lucrative business so quickly?

Carolyn believes it's a natural evolution of the industry. Gaming started as just an activity you did at home with your own friends and family, but now with streaming and other innovations, you can watch your favorite gamers play at home or in competitions.

What is the Misfits Agency and how does it help aspiring professional gamers in their path?

Misfits Agency is a part of a competitive video game organization called Misfits Gaming Group. The Agency helps with the branding, marketing and all other behind-the-scenes elements that help catapult a gamer into the professional field. This lets the gamers focus on the gaming, the connecting and the entertaining.

There are some associations between gaming and mental health. How do you educate people on mental health?

Carolyn believes the key is talking about it more. She says gaming is just an activity and the effects from it lie on a broad spectrum. We shouldn’t make assumptions about how gaming affects us but instead engage in a dialogue about it. We should talk about the issues and not pin the issues on the activity of gaming. Another key thing not to do is isolating. Instead of placing gaming stations into dark corners of rooms, Carolyn suggests we put them into more central areas of the home, which can lead to bringing family and friends together, rather than isolating someone.

There is a difference between an addiction and a passion. What advice would you tell someone who may be getting addicted to gaming?

Carolyn suggests we should pay attention to how it affects a gamer’s functioning. You can play some number of hours but still be able to maintain a social life, meet all the demands in your relationships, and so on. If a gamer sees that they are slipping, they should pull back on the number of hours they are playing, but if you’re not that may already be an addiction. Then it is time to consult a mental health professional.

What do you think about the growing popularity of the gaming industry? Let us know in the comments below!

You can learn more about the Misfits Agency here

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