Can a video game save a life? | Johnny Chiodini | TEDxOldham

Johnny Chiodini explores the impact video games can have on mental health and wellbeing
Johnny Chiodini is a video games journalist and Senior Video Producer for Eurogamer.net.
He has been working in the games industry for the past seven years, during which time his work has earned several award nominations.
More recently, he has turned his attention to covering mental health issues with specific reference to video games and their consumers. It is his hope to challenge some of the stigma surrounding mental health and help facilitate more open discussion.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@nathanshearman1269]

Johnny Chiodini is one of my real world heroes. Loved the low batteries video series and really enjoyed watching this too. If I can end up coming across half as well as him when I'm talking to a group of people then I'd be happy.

[@mdmonowar7339]

Cheers for the video content! Apologies for the intrusion, I would love your opinion. Have you heard about - Peyadison Initial Principality (search on google)? It is a smashing exclusive guide for discovering how to get rid of depression minus the hard work. Ive heard some great things about it and my friend finally got great success with it.

[@mauronicolascanseco1643]

Thanks for the Video clip! Forgive me for butting in, I am interested in your initial thoughts. Have you heard the talk about - Peyadison Initial Principality (erm, check it on google should be there)? It is a smashing exclusive guide for releasing your stress and mastering your mind minus the normal expense. Ive heard some great things about it and my friend Sam after a lifetime of fighting got astronomical success with it.

[@MrLewis555]

Well said

[@Wickerrman]

Fantastic talk by Johnny here! Sadly, a lot of people try to discount the power of video games, without realising what they can really do and how they can truly help millions of people overcome their issues.

[@Eriamgh]

This is an excellent talk by an amazing individual and I'm mad at KZbin for taking 5 years to recommend this video to me.

[@dee...]

I found you through your work with the oxventure d&d videos on KZbin. You are both emotionally and intellectually intelligent; funny; highly imaginative; courageous; and I'm glad you're using all these qualities to help others dealing with mental health issues. Thanks, man. The world would be a better place if more folks opened up like this.

[@willyum3920]

Johnny Chiodini did a Ted Talk? How am I only finding this now as an avid oxventurer.

[@legs0fmetal245]

Really inspiring, Johnny is so right. For a while I stop playing video games and then I lost my leg in December, and to keep my sanity I went back to playing video games, and truly believe I'm still alive and happy because of it.

[@midnight_matter8707]

This man is a beautiful human being...

[@hyperion960]

I cannot believe I am just finding this for the first time. I have watched Eurogamer videos for years and have felt so deeply supported and seen by the work of the video creators on the channel over all of these years. But Johnny specifically has been so amazing throughout and this is so exquisitely beautiful.

[@theheroofkvatch8370]

Life is Strange helped so much with depression

[@raiyaanhusain3529]

Would you able to tell how exactly ?

[@RogueIRL23]

Lol, it triggered my depression.

[@Competitive_Antagonist]

I seems like one of those narratives that makes out all psychopathologies to be the result of choices. That is true for some cases, but to claim it for all is damaging to mental health as it's not true for everyone and can direct people down wrong paths. It does seem a very good game though. Sometimes some people need a fictional media that explores pathology, even if the narrative has no real advice to offer. Kind of how like depressed people like listening to depressing songs.

[@user-yi7ez6lf4z]

@@Competitive_Antagonist The game is a bit fatalism tho.

[@ethanlappin]

Ironic because I'm almost sure it gave me depression 😂

[@DRWHO-UNIT-COSPLAY]

The oxventure and video games have helped me alot got my first D&D session this weekend. Johnny has helped me alot over the last year

[@gwdphoto1]

Johnny, I found you with outside Xbox, but I really found you here. Thank you.

[@lawlbeastgaming7962]

A lot of people, especially our channel's editor, understands this concept. Only wish this gentleman could have some better lighting and a bigger audience. Haha Yay internet for spreading the word.

[@TheCarlbags]

Fun fact he is an excellent chef

[@laurenkelly3298]

I know this video was put up a while ago now, but it makes me think back to 'The Beginner's Guide'. It genuinely made me sit back and re-evaluate my life and put everything into perspective. I highly recommend watching a playthrough or for you to play it yourself.

[@GrimoireOfJank]

Bloody love chiodini, such an amazing guy, Anyways loved this ted talk

[@lorminatti_art]

This really helps me prepare for my thesis ! ;; my thesis tackles mental health stigma and designing a video game depicting that issue . Im already expecting it to be a tough presentation since talking about mental illness in my country is still a taboo topic.

[@johnwild9917]

Im from oldham......i am genuinely sad i never new this existed

[@StopForcingPlusOnUs]

Loved the talk Johnny. Fallout 3 and my dogs saved me when I was a teen. Almost a decade on now, I couldn't be a more different person, never sad at all. Games are incredible for wellbeing, Skyrim put me in a different world when I got out of my first proper relationship. PS love all the playthroughs you and Aoife have been doing! :)

[@realanonymous744]

Came here from his twitter and I love that talk. Glad to see someone giving insight towards mental issues and encouraging people to be more understanding and open minded towards them Cheers to you, Johnny Mushroom

[@commando7144]

he`s right on!. Even any game can get your mind off of the things that can set off panic attacks if your already have played the game .imo.

[@Josh_Woodford]

Nice work, really enjoyed this talk. incredibly interesting.

[@maciejdev]

Video games will either save you or destroy you. One has to be very careful, just ask any former video game addict. Though I do not discredit what has been said, as they can be used to make one less anxious and get you through rough patches, even save a life.

[@the_scotch]

A great talk from a great guy. There's a reason why Johnny is so beloved.

[@ArtSio443]

words couldn't suffice to express how thankful I am for this talk... this stroke some very important chords of mine, and helped me develop a thorough insight on the coping strategies I use towards gaming. Many thanks 🙏

[@Gibsonmaniac57]

Love ya Johnny. Thanks for sharing, and for the helpful words. Side note for anyone needing a good game, Zelda Breath of the Wild is like chocolate cake for the soul 👍

[@TheDarkKnight2064]

Literally the first time I played that game helped me so much with my anxiety. Also made me very happy while playing it especially when link wakes up and walks out the shrine that moment was so beautiful and I felt very happy.

[@156football]

I love Johnny man!

[@jammerdarnold2022]

The man is damn good

[@UnjustifiedRecs]

Great video Johnny! Fully agree with everything you said.

[@MrFredd38]

Great talk Johnny Mushroom!

[@sigoy]

Johnny, your Feedbackula show helped me feel better, I loved them. Thank you.

[@Egotisticsoup]

sigoy Oh lord I forgot about Feedbackula!! Memories!

[@thegreatpineapple4425]

Great Ted talk Johnny! I wish Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice was a thing back when you did this. That would have been the perfect example.

[@yue7507]

first thing I thought of

[@maxsmith1335]

Amazing talk

[@srivastava767]

This popped up in my recommended and i am so glad it did. Thankyou Johnny and TEDx for this wonderful talk. Thankyou for calling me hopeful

[@pepto8725]

thank you for this ted talk this talk really helped me with my english project

[@coryvogelgesang]

Thanks for sharing Johnny!

[@bigdognuniff]

This really hits different in 2021

[@Kalah_]

A really nice talk. :)

[@SuperLotus]

Wow. This is a really great talk. I'm surprised it doesn't have more views and comments. For me, I guess it was Dark Souls to a certain extent. It at least prolonged my life, but now I'm sort of at a crossroads where I need something else. I don't know if it's another video game or what. I have chronic pain in my hands and other health issues preventing me from doing something like Kinect.

[@Fizzy89]

I wish my parents was like this man

[@milenapantic2755]

Game that i like hasn't come out yet. Waiting for Hellblade.

[@fullswingin]

I came to this video after watching Johnny's Low Batteries episode on Hellblade :) glad it's been such a huge success

[@SalCapone6499]

I can’t wait for Hellblade 2 on Xbox Series X

[@richardbrown3055]

He could probably do a whole new talk on Animal Crossing New Horizons and the COVID pandemic

[@elizebethvonperson7591]

Life is Strange! Wooooo!

[@hannahzielonko3273]

Flowy is not available in canada, is there anyway for it to be accessible for us?

[@default9033]

What is physical touch I'm emotionally depraved I just stay angry all the time. I feel like a tin man. I can't relate to people and when I can't control something I just shut down.

[@Competitive_Antagonist]

People seem to talk a lot about the gaming narrative, but I don't really find it that healing, apart from maybe 'The Suffering' with it's Freudian elements. What I really find helpful is the "stoic" mindset it creates in me. I have to struggle with find my way around the map while keeping a lookout for villains to kill and I have to keep my cool while under pressure. I'm basically learning to deal with stressful events and challenges while not getting frustrated and instead seeing it as a fun challenge. I zone out for a while as my higher emotions take a back seat and I just focus on my immediate experience and instincts. Kind of like mindfulness or vipasana, though that's been kind of watered down these days into thinking nice thoughts nonsense.

[@akshitapradeep7115]

Listening to it while playing tetris :P

[@starbird14]

Mirror's Edge changed my brain.

[@danvankooten9515]

HE LOOKS SO YOUNG WITH SHORT HAIR

[@Sebastian-kc2fu]

❤

[@Fizzy89]

Multiplayer games help with depression and mental health online school is bad for mental health

[@Sarah_Loves_BTS]

the last of us saved me.

[@lawrencefunk6520]

👍👍👍👍👍/5

[@RogueIRL23]

I just got an ad from League of Legends.

[@necrago]

"The biggest video game in the world right now is league of legends" Me - thinks about fortnite

[@Fizzy89]

Fortnite and call of duty help my depression but my mom thinks it bad for me

[@Maniceureka]

I've been a gamer basically since I was 4 years old. And I've struggled with mental health issue as well. But while gaming has it's benefits it also has it's downsides. And I think it's a subpar substitute for real life social communities. To make an extreme comparison; cutting and other kinds of self-harm gives a sense of control to some people. Which is a better alternative to actually commiting suicide. Video games don't equal self-harm of course, but it can definately lead to self-sabotage; like actually making people more isolated, or escaping from their problems rather than dealing with them. All of which I'm guilty of. I don't think video games should be seen as a reliable treatment. But it's great if it can help those who don't have anything else.

[@rakshasirari2034]

what do u subpar? a gaming community is as good as,if not better, than any "real life " social community

[@levi8971]

1st

[@RainbooWzz]

+levi bell Oh for heavens sake

[@levi8971]

I'm joking lol

[@elkudos6262]

Hwat?)))

[@vettuvayalilalbinjohnson1069]

Depressed? Play GTA

[@Parialated]

Want to get depressed play gta online

[@siddheshpillai3807]

No it doesnt

[@titanuranus3095]

Wow, looks like anybody can just do TED talks these days.

[@logansheffield8641]

Titan Uranus That's exactly why you've done one right?

[@titanuranus3095]

@@logansheffield8641 Fair.