10/10/2019
For World Mental Health Day we take a look at our picks for Top 5 Mindful Video Games that each, in their own way, explores the idea of living a better life.
From the surprising to the heartfelt, from the bold to the exciting; Mindful games can take on the form of narrative-based experiences, multiplayer adventures to share, or singular journeys to cherish.
What have we missed? What are your picks for a mindful game? What qualifies it? Have you had any positive or life-altering experiences from a video game in particular? Please start a discussion and tell us in the comments below.
Disclaimer: These are just food for thought and not solutions for more complex mental health issues.
If you are experiencing symptoms of mental health issues or require any guidance, please seek support from the following helplines:
Anxiety UK
Charity providing support if you have been diagnosed with an anxiety condition.
http://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/
Phone: 03444 775 774 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm)
Bipolar UK
A charity helping people living with manic depression or bipolar disorder.
http://www.bipolaruk.org.uk/
Mental Health Foundation
Provides information and support for anyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities.
http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/
Mind
Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.
http://www.mind.org.uk/
Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm)
No Panic
Voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Offers a course to help overcome your phobia or OCD.
http://www.nopanic.org.uk/
Phone: 0844 967 4848 (daily, 10am to 10pm)
OCD Action
Support for people with OCD. Includes information on treatment and online resources.
http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/
Phone: 0845 390 6232 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm)
PAPYRUS
Young su***de prevention society.
http://www.papyrus-uk.org/
Phone: HOPElineUK 0800 068 4141 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm and 7pm to 10pm, and 2pm to 5pm on weekends)
Rethink Mental Illness
Support and advice for people living with mental illness.
http://www.rethink.org/
Phone: 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
Samaritans
Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
http://www.samaritans.org.uk/
Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
SANE
Emotional support, information and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers.
http://www.sane.org.uk/support
SANEline: 0300 304 7000 (daily, 4.30pm to 10.30pm)
Cruse Bereavement Care
http://www.cruse.org.uk/home
Phone: 0844 477 9400 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Relate
http://www.relate.org.uk/
The UK's largest provider of relationship support.
Life is Strange
https://lifeisstrange.square-enix-gam...
Links to other videos about gaming and mental health:
Games that do mental health right - Eurogamer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU7YL...
How Video Games Explore Mental Illness - Gamespot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jzhJ...
Games referenced:
Persona 5 (2016)
Valkyria Chronicles Remastered (2016)
Shadow of the Colossus (2018)
The Last Guardian (2016)
A Plague Tale: Innocence (2019)
Everybody's Gone To The Rapture (2015)
Red Dead Redemption II (2018)
Limbo (2010)
Cibele (2015)
Event[0] (2016)
Thomas Was Alone (2012)
Metro Exodus (2019)
Vampyr (2018)
The Last of US Remastered (2014)
Rumu (2017)
Soma (2015)
This War of Mine: The Little Ones (2016)
Undertale (2015)
Virginia (2016)
Night in the Woods (2017)
Celeste (2018)
Depression Quest (2013)
Life is Strange (2015)
Life is Strange: Before the Storm (2017)
The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit (2018)
That Dragon, Cancer (2016)
What Remains of Edith Finch (2017)
Layers of Fear (2016)
Oxenfree (2016)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered (2016)
Fragments of Him (2016)
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (2013)
The Unfinished Swan (2012)
Flower (2009)
Hohokum (2014)
Abzu (2016)
Rime (2017)
Grow Up (2016)
Stardew Valley (2016)
Doki-Doki Universe (2013)
Child of Light (2014)
Kentucky Route Zero (2013)
Firewatch (2016)
Okami (2017)
Little Big Planet 3 (2014)
Knights and Bikes (2019)
A Way Out (2018)
Streets of Rage 2 (1992)
Horizon Chase Turbo (2018)
ONRUSH (2018)
Journey (2015)
Overwatch (2016)
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy (2017)
Planet of the Apes: Last Frontier (2017)
Rez Infinite (2016)
The Witness (2016)
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime (2015)
Overcooked (2016)
Mini Metro (2014)
Reigns: Her Majesty (2018)
80 Days (2014)
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice (2017)
The Town of Light (2016)
Prey (2017)
-op
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RkQNBN-ykU
For World Mental Health Day we take a look at our picks for Top 5 Mindful Video Games that each, in their own way, explores the idea of living a better life....