Posted on: 4 April 2025
A recent BBC Radio 4 You and Yours programme explored the relationship between gaming and mental wellbeing, featuring insights from Dr Richard Pomfret, Counselling Psychologist from the National Centre for Gaming Disorders.
The discussion was prompted by a new Oxford Internet Institute study, which found that the number of hours adults spent gaming did not significantly impact their mental health. However, Pomfret highlighted that this research does not reflect the cases seen in clinical settings.
“The gamers in this study are very different to the presentations that we see,” he said.
"That’s both in terms of age and the numbers of hours played. In the study the average age was 31 and the average age in our clinic is around 15… We actually see individuals who are involved in more intensive or hardcore gaming patterns, averaging around 10 hours per day.”
The National Centre for Gaming Disorders, the first and only NHS clinic of its kind in England, treats individuals struggling with gaming addiction. The clinic deals with cases of excessive gaming, which can lead to severe disruptions in education, work, sleep, and social life. Many patients use gaming as a coping mechanism for issues such as anxiety, depression, or family conflicts.
Since its establishment in 2019, the clinic has seen an increase in referrals, from just 12 in its first year up to 220 last year.