Talking Mental Health Over Video Games
Amateur mental health discussions on the streaming platform Twitch are gaining popularity–and that has professionals concerned
In October 2017, Marie Shanley felt she couldn’t continue her job as project manager in New York City after suffering a public panic attack two months into the new role. During that time, negative feelings about her life were overwhelming, and she had trouble finding resources to help navigate her issues.
That’s why she took it upon herself to help others in similar circumstances. She started building a website and producing content for Instagram and Twitter, and then a friend suggested Shanley find a niche on a relatively new form of online communication: Twitch.
Twitch is an immensely popular service for gamers, who can broadcast a live video feed of whatever video game they’re playing. Just as people watch high-level athletes play sports, viewers tune in to Twitch streams to watch their favorite gamers perform. Dubbed “streamers,” these gamers develop close relationships with their audiences, who can donate money, subscribe, and, perhaps most important, interact with the streamers through live chat.
Since the service launched in 2011, these discussions have evolved beyond the topic of…
