Game-Based Prevention of Depression in Students

Depression is a mental health problem with far-reaching implications. In the particular case of affected students, this can hinder not only their academic performance but also their general well-being. To help prevent this problem, we developed the serious game ‘Sally’. For its creation we followed Multiple Composite Scenarios (MCS), a methodology for the design of serious games rooted in principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). To explore the effects produced by ‘Sally’, we evaluated our game in a randomized controlled trial. The results show that, at p < 0.05, ‘Sally’ significantly reduces depressive symptoms. In this paper, we present our findings and discuss the benefits and limitations of this serious game, along with our plans for future improvements to enhance its effectiveness.