Games and mental health

Congress Center, Irena Ondrová Hall

This block of lectures and discussions will focus on one of the fastest-growing topics at the intersection of psychology, medicine, and the gaming industry: the relationship between games and mental health. How do games affect the mental well-being of children and adolescents? Where is the line between healthy gaming and potential risk? And what do we know about their therapeutic potential in the prevention of anxiety, depression, social isolation, or in trauma-related care? Experts in clinical psychology, psychiatry, game therapy, and research will share current insights and open a discussion on how the field is perceived from within: what real progress has been made, where the limitations remain, and how perceptions of games as therapeutic tools are evolving within contemporary mental health care.
The programme will also address a topic that still lacks sufficient visibility in the Czech environment: the development of games for players with visual or hearing impairments. Speakers will explore how accessible games are created for people with sensory disabilities, what technical, design, and creative challenges this process involves, what solutions already exist today, and why accessibility in gaming is not only a matter of inclusivity, but also of the very purpose of the medium itself. Games should be for everyone — and this is not merely an ideal, but a direction that part of the gaming industry is consciously pursuing.

10 a.m.–11 a.m. - More Than Entertainment: The Power of Video Games in Supporting Young People’s Mental Well-being

The lecture will present video games not only as a form of entertainment, but also as an effective tool supporting the mental, emotional, and social wellbeing of young people. Drawing on their practical experience from Poland, the speakers will showcase specific examples of using games in education, particularly in developing empathy, reflection, and active engagement with complex social issues. By combining perspectives from education and game development, the lecture will offer a balanced view of both the opportunities and challenges associated with gaming, while also presenting ways to create healthy and supportive environments for young people. The aim is to inspire educators and other professionals to use games thoughtfully and effectively in their practice.

Speakers:
Ewa Maria Szczepanowska – cultural manager and expert in audiovisual education. Co-founder of the Kultura Interaktywna Foundation and organizer of the Student Games Festival and the “Games in Education” programme.
Paweł Miechowski – game developer, screenwriter and marketing expert, co-founder of the Kultura Interaktywna Foundation.
Kultura Interaktywna Foundation is an initiative established by experienced professionals from the film and video game industries. The foundation organizes projects such as the Student Games Festival and develops the educational programme “Games in Education”. Through its activities, it promotes video games as tools for education, social impact, and cultural expression.
Organized in cooperation with Czech Centres – a contributory organization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.


11:15 a.m.–12 p.m. - Gaming and Mental Health – Panel Discussion

The panel will focus on how digital games influence the everyday lives and mental health of both children and adults. Bringing together perspectives from research, academia, and game development, the discussion will address specific questions: when can games support mental wellbeing, and when do they instead pose a risk? What role do they play in emotional regulation and coping with stress? And how can we think meaningfully about games in the context of prevention and education?

Panelists:
Mgr. et Mgr. Iveta Fajnerová, Ph.D. – Head of the Centre for Research, Implementation, Education and Clinical Care in Mental Health at the National Institute of Mental Health.
Zdeněk Kvasnica – designer and producer working in the field of digital products and the gaming industry.
Mgr. David Lacko, Ph.D. – psychologist and researcher focusing on the impact of digital media – particularly video games and video streaming – on mental well-being.

Language: English/Czech