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At the end of last year, MY.GAMES and partners launched an international survey for gamers asking questions about their mental health and online experiences with cyberbullying. It sparked a crucial conversation that helps shed light on the mental wellbeing of an incredibly large community.
Over 21,000 players ages 14-years-old and up took part in the survey, which was conducted across Europe and the United States. The results show that many gamers are aware of and in tune with their own mental health status, and in a COVID-19 reality, it's important that game developers and the industry at large pay attention to their communities.
Many of the participants were players of MY.GAMES PC games like Revelation, SkyForge, Warface, and War Robots - but there were hundreds of others who took the surveys through partner organizations the International Game Developers Association and Fair Play Alliance. Most of the gamers who responded to the survey play games every week, which means they're uniquely positioned to answer questions about mental health in gaming, especially regarding cyberbullying in online matchmaking and lockdown lifestyle as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and how it affects their mental health.
A third of UK gamers have dealt with anxiety and other stress-induced mental health issues several times within a year, with 38% saying they sought professional help more than once their entire lives, and 64% answering that they would seek mental health support when necessary. More than half of gamers in the UK noted that their mental health status is positively affected by interacting with other players in multiplayer modes, as it helps them feel connected during the pandemic-related lockdown.
In the United States, one in three gamers have admitted to dealing with anxiety and other stress-induced disorders within the past year, with 42% seeking professional help more than once, and 63% saying they would seek it if necessary. The numbers were very similar to the UK, which is interesting considering the vast difference between medical care accessibility between the two countries. Speaking of, US players did note that the cost of healthcare is the most significant obstacle in seeking professional help, while other countries only 8% to 22% of participants noted the cost of healthcare as a factor. Despite the obstacles to getting quality mental health support, US participants are keenly aware of the various types of mental health issues one may face, and prefer to seek out counselors and psychologists over online sessions and hotlines.
What's incredibly interesting is just how many participants play online games, which can be both a source of positive social interaction and negative experiences thanks to cyberbullying. Globally, 93% of participants play multiplayer games, with 84% saying they're open to chatting with other players during gameplay. And despite gaming becoming even more popular during lockdown, only 4% of players started talking to others after lockdown began, with 68% saying they're communicating the same amount as they were before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, 25% of players are talking more than they did before their respective lockdowns, with 38% spending more time hanging out with friends in virtual gamespaces.
Multiplayer voice chat can be a very polarizing experience, but thankfully many participants in the survey had positive interactions that made them feel safe and connected to others in a time of social distancing. Despite this, more than half of the gamers who participated have experience some form of online harassment, with 57% occasionally encountering insults, 53% getting trolled, and 52% being the subject of aggressive behavior. One in ten have had online interactions that have negatively affected their mental health. It's clear that cyberbullying is still a very important issue facing gamers, but it's nice to note that serious issues of toxic behavior were noted far less often by the players who were surveyed.
Ultimately, the survey held by MY.GAMES and partners depicts a global community of gamers who are well-aware of mental health issues and how to seek help regarding them. Many participants turned to online communities to find a sense of camaraderie before the pandemic, with a few more turning to these virtual spaces to enjoy social interaction during their respective lockdowns. It's clear that the gaming community is taking mental health seriously during the pandemic, and that now it's more important than ever to continue to have conversations about gamers' mental health.
