Gaming saved my life. Sounds quite dramatic, doesn’t it?

You see, gaming isn’t just an activity nowadays. It’s a platform for people to be creative, to learn new things, and - most importantly, in my instance - to be sociable and build a community. Contrary to the old stereotypes, gaming doesn’t have to be a solitary activity, favoured by those locked away in their bedrooms not wanting to talk to anyone. In fact, a report late last year showed that 55% of gamers play video games specifically to avoid isolation and loneliness.

This has been true for me. Turning to video games I found a group of gaming companions who knew exactly what I was going through, keeping me company via Discord on the especially dark days (and roasting me a little on the good days, of course).

“55% of gamers play video games specifically to avoid isolation and loneliness”

- Video Games Europe

Our Discord server chills quickly became a daily activity, and as our community grew around the world, we joined channels not only to play, but to discuss new games, wrap our heads around patch updates, sit back with a beer while watching Esports, share memes we'd stumbled across on the internet, and generally catch up. We even had a Lord of the Rings watch party. Extended editions, of course.

In short, gaming and the community that came with it became a form of therapy when I needed it the most.

“The therapeutic benefits of gaming have been increasingly recognised by mental health professionals”

National Library of Medicine

Gaming is no substitute for modern medication and professional help. But for many, myself included, it can certainly act as a complementary tool to alleviate symptoms on a particularly bad mental health day, or to see you through to the next morning when times are hard. And isn’t that just wonderful?