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Research and expert insights illustrate how gamified health tools are creating behavior change in public health worldwide.
Can a video game ease anxiety, build focus, or support a child with ADHD?
As healthcare challenges surge globally — especially among youth — innovators are turning to an unlikely tool: video games. Now one of the world’s largest entertainment industries, the global gaming market is projected to surpass $522 billion by the end of 2025, according to Statista. A new wave of purpose-driven games has emerged to promote emotional well-being, treat attention disorders, and teach life-saving health behaviors. A landmark NIH study found mental health video games improved 69% of psychological therapy outcomes — a breakthrough that’s shifting perceptions of what games can do. From ADHD awareness games backed by top psychologists to vaccine education games supported by WHO, these aren’t just games — they’re evidence-based digital health tools reshaping public health communication. My new video interview with WHO’s Andy Pattison supports this thesis.
From Play to Purpose: How ADHD Awareness Games and Gamified Health Tools Drive Global Behavior Change
According to Psyon Games CEO Olli Rundgren, “The combined impact of gamified health interventions could result in a 10–30X increase in efficiency compared to traditional awareness methods, through enhanced engagement, improved knowledge retention, improved longevity and stronger behavioral outcomes.”
One standout example is FULL ADHD, a purpose-driven awareness game developed by Psyon Games in partnership with Takeda Pharmaceuticals. In Finland, the game saw user engagement average 17 minutes per session — nearly 8 times longer than typical health website visits. The game also achieved 82% lower cost-per-install than industry benchmarks, with 88% of players reporting a changed perception of ADHD. Psyon is also finalizing a feasibility study for an HPV awareness game backed by the Gates Foundation in Africa - — part of a growing wave of purpose-driven games reshaping global health communication.
Breaking the Stigma and Building Empathy
Stephen V. Faraone, PhD, Distinguished Professor at SUNY Upstate Medical University, believes that digital ADHD awareness tools can play a pivotal role in public education. “We live in a world where many people do not understand mental disorders, especially those that affect children. That leads to stigma, bullying and being ostracized,” he says. He views ADHD awareness games as scalable tools to improve empathy and tolerance, especially in regions where diagnosis and understanding are limited.
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