In Case You Haven't Heard…

Nearly 70% of teens engage in online gaming with strangers on a weekly basis, underscoring how gaming environments can make youths vulnerable to mental health concerns and safety risks, the Ruderman Family Foundation indicated in a new white paper, a news release stated. At the same time, gaming has the potential to be a powerful social platform for reaching youths who are struggling with mental health challenges. According to “Connected Play: Adolescent Gaming and Perceived Loneliness,” the Foundation's newly published white paper, conducted by the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children's Hospital, one in five adolescents who engage in online gaming have encountered toxicity and safety issues. While lonely adolescents may turn to gaming for social connections, they are more likely to report negative experiences, suggesting that these virtual environments are not providing the supportive and fulfilling interactions they need. The Foundation initially brought its expertise in mental health to gaming beginning in 2023, seeking to leverage the widespread popularity of gaming to transform it into a creative avenue for reaching youths who are struggling with mental health challenges, such as persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loneliness (see “White paper touts gaming as tool to combat youth MH crisis,” MHW , Oct. 30, 2023; https://doi.org/10.1002/mhw.33839 ).