Players try not to get stung as they follow Vanilla Buzzy Bees to locate their nest and harvest Minecraft honey, which can be used to craft a number of useful items. The Minecraft universe is a place where creativity knows no bounds, filled with monsters and treasure. (Courtesy of Mojang/Microsoft)

The mental health crisis among children and adolescents is one of the most pressing challenges facing the United States today. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five children suffer from mental health problems such as anxiety, depression or behavioral disorders, but most never receive the care they need. As mental health issues rise – fueled by the impact of social isolation, academic stress and digital overload – it has become more important than ever to find innovative solutions.

While traditional therapy is vital, we need to rethink how we engage today’s youth, who spend much of their time in the digital world. Video games, in particular, have long been viewed with skepticism due to their potential negative impacts. However, emerging research reveals that video games can actually be powerful therapeutic tools, offering new ways to help young people develop emotional and social skills and improve their cognitive abilities performance.

Recent studies suggest that games requiring problem solving, teamwork, and emotional regulation reflect many of the goals of traditional therapy. These games can teach children to cope with frustration, collaborate effectively, and build self-confidence – fundamental skills for emotional well-being. By integrating video games into therapeutic contexts, we can leverage an activity that many children already love, using it as a bridge to develop life skills in a fun and engaging way.

Thrive Behavioral Health is taking this approach through an innovative group play program launching in September 2023 that uses popular platforms like PlayStation and Nintendo Switch to promote social and emotional development. Sessions, built around games like Minecraft, Cuphead, Super Smash Bros., Untitled Goose Game and Astro Playroom, help the children 8 to 18 years old, learn patience, mindfulness and teamwork. Children collaborate in pairs, small groups, and sometimes large groups to create virtual environments, learning valuable communication and problem-solving skills. We have access to a catalog of over 150 games, spanning from 1986 to the present, allowing us to target different therapeutic outcomes and meet children’s developmental goals and interests.

By integrating video games into therapeutic contexts, we can tap into an activity that many children already love, using it as a bridge to develop life skills in a fun and engaging way.

While there are understandable concerns about screen time and gaming addiction, structured programs like the one offered by Thrive can also teach children to use technology responsibly. By incorporating lessons about internet safety and healthy boundaries, we can ensure that children are equipped to navigate the digital world while using these tools for personal growth. We have several safeguards in place, including personalized parental controls and therapeutic supervision throughout play, to ensure a safe, positive and focused environment for children. A therapist actively engages with children throughout play to guide conversations, provide real-time feedback, and model appropriate behaviors.

However, the success of programs like this depends on having enough qualified professionals available to run them. The shortage of mental health practitioners, particularly those trained to work with children and adolescents, remains a critical problem. We need more mental health providers skilled not only in traditional therapies, but also in innovative and technological treatment approaches.

The path forward is clear: to address the youth mental health crisis, we must meet children where they are – often in front of screens – and create engaging, interactive therapeutic experiences that resonate with their digital lives. At the same time, expanding the mental health workforce is essential to ensure these innovations can benefit the children who need them most.

By embracing technology and equipping professionals to harness its potential, we can create a brighter, healthier future for today’s youth, one that prioritizes mental well-being and responsible use of technology. The digital world is here to stay: let’s use it as a tool for healing and growth.

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