How video games effect mental health issues
How virtual reality can aid mental health
How screen based applications can effect mental health
I'm particularly interested in the applications these have on schizophrenia, continuing from last year's COP study on Body Dysmorphia, a condition often linked to schizophrenia it helps me understand this condition better, my cousin is schizophrenic as a result of self inflicted damaging behaviours, but interestingly now he finds it difficult to watch TV, go outside to take the bins out and generally interact. My mum regularly receives 'chain mail' from him on Facebook with messaged laced with paranoia about this message being capable of killing those who don't pass it on but not a hello. I'd like to explore more into this topic and understand where this fear of mass media comes from and what specifics can alleviate or worsen mental health issues.
Preliminary research:
Video and Computer Games: Effect on Children and Implications for Health Education
ABSTRACT: Video and computer-based games have assumed a prominent role in the culture of American children and adolescents. Given the pervasiveness of their influence, it is likely that these games may affect the health and well-being of children. This paper examines the health effects of these games on children, suggests criteria upon which parents and teachers may evaluate the games, and notes some implications for health educators.
Video games as a complementary therapy tool in mental disorders: PlayMancer, a European multicentre study
-Journal of mental health
-Previous review studies have suggested that computer games can serve as an alternative or additional form of treatment in several areas (schizophrenia, asthma or motor rehabilitation). Although several naturalistic studies have been conducted showing the usefulness of serious video games in the treatment of some abnormal behaviours, there is a lack of serious games specially designed for treating mental disorders.
Playmancer: A video game designed to aid with rehabilitation with physical disorders/ treating severe mental health conditions from issues to schizophrenia, to anorexia nervosa; namely eating disorders and impulse disorders. 
Possible outcomes: Develop with a game designer/ animator my own game that helps treat mental health conditions, or an app capable of the same thing. This way I'd be a lot more in control of my design decisions and would fit the brief as a body of graphic outcomes. With the game I'd be limited to designing only certain elements.
Prevention of Schizophrenia—Will a Broader Prevention Agenda Support This Aim?
Looking into the causes of developing schizophrenia this piece touches on self inflicted bad habits such as smoking cannabis, sleep, vitamin D efficiency, poor nutrition and so on which are all every day things to me and most people (not smoking cannabis anymore.. as it increased my paranoia so I can see how this would aid as it worsened my anxiety and can act as a gateway drug). We all probably don't eat what we should due to mass production of chemically enhanced food our bodies shouldn't even be absorbing, this can also lead to obesity which it's stated also puts you at greater risk of developing schizophrenia.
In another article virtual reality is touched on again. I love the graphics of this and the other game, the simplicity is supposedly calming however especially this game looks threatening for some reason.
A Virtual Reality Apartment as a Measure of Medication Management Skills in Patients With Schizophrenia: A Pilot Study
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