We are a research and development lab that aims to establish the scientific foundations for effective mental health games. We empirically validate our games with rigorous research designs, we share our data publicly, and publish our results regardless of outcomes. We are also committed to developing a theoretical framework and new methodologies that stipulate how to use games to experimentally test theories of psychological change.
Our international partners include developmental psychologists, neuroscientists, veteran game developers, and artists whose objective is to harness the power of play to transform children's emotional lives. We co-design game experiences based on empirically validated principles, together with clinicians, parents and children themselves.
Welcome to the Games for Emotional and Mental Health (GEMH) Lab! We are committed to meeting young people in the digital playgrounds they have chosen to inhabit and providing choices that delight and empower youth while also training emotional resilience skills.
top update
This week, the GEMH Lab is in Normandy, France, for another edition of a productive and inspiring writing week.
top update
RTL Z shortly stopped by our booth at INDIGO where we were showing DEEP, which resulted in a brief feature on the Dutch news of 17:30 on July 6th, 2017
top update
A summary of the research-backed rationale for using games for the prevention and treatment of anxiety and depression in youth.
If the GEMH lab is going to be successful in its mission to deliver a radically new form of mental health interventions for youth, we need to have a very clear purpose, to start with our WHY and design and test games that fit with our WHY...
In our July research meeting GEMH lab discussed Mary Meeker's 2017 Internet Trends report. We were excited to see that gaming has such a prominent spot in this report and were fascinated by some of the trends Mary Meeker mentioned.
I recently had the privilege to spend eight weeks in the United States of America to collaborate with Douglas Gentile and his Media Research Lab at Iowa State University in Ames.
GEMH-lab will be at INDIGO 2017 to showcase the amazing VR game DEEP, so come and say hi!
Report by the RSPH about the relationship between social media and young people’s mental health and wellbeing: https://www.rsph.org.uk/our-work/policy/social-media-and-young-people-s-mental-health-and-wellbeing.html
Stress, it may be an inevitable part of life. Yet by many stress is viewed as uncontrollable and even dangerous. But what if we could rewire our brains to make stress our friend rather than our enemy?
Do schools kill our kids' creativity? https://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity
Games for Health Europe is the leading community in the field of health games, bringing together the best minds in game development and health.
CHI PLAY is an international and interdisciplinary conference for researchers and professionals across all areas of play, games and human-computer interaction.
Many children have difficulties with fearful situations and are anxious. Interventions can help to teach children to cope effectively with anxiety-inducing situations. In our project, we rigorously tested whether an intervention in the form of a video game (MindLight) is effective in significantly reducing anxiety symptoms in children 8-12 years old. We did this by comparing MindLight to 1) a commercial game and 2) the gold-standard, cognitive-behavioural therapy for anxiety (Coping Cat). Furthermore, we aim to evaluate the reasons for why MindLight is effective (e.g., what kinds of mechanics work) and for whom (e.g., age and gender differences).
This project aims to develop and assess the use of biofeedback videogames to help youth cope with stress and anxiety. In addition it aims to identify physiological markers and patterns of emotion regulation. The current studies within this project focus on exploring the potential of the virtual reality biofeedback game DEEP where players use deep diaphragmatic breathing to move through a beautiful underwater world.
Smoking is one of the leading public health problems in the world. Currently, there is no evidence-based intervention program available to help youth and young adults quit smoking. Besides the lack of high-quality research, recruitment and retention of youth and young adults are two of the most challenging aspects of the implementation and evaluation of smoking cessation interventions. We argue that limitations in current smoking cessation interventions for youth can be maximally addressed by using video games as interventions. In the current project a video game will be developed and tested on its effectiveness and mechanisms of change to help youth and young adults quit smoking.
