To mark the beginning of Mental Health Awareness week, we wanted to take a moment to revisit a fantastic project we collaborated on with the Mental Health Foundation.
Understanding the nuances of mental health requires empathy, trust, and the right tools to capture authentic human experiences. For this project, we needed to get close to the participants’ daily routines to truly understand how their digital habits impacted their emotional state.
The Project: Tracking Gaming and Wellbeing
Throughout a three-week period, we engaged 20 gamers from various parts of the UK to track their gaming habits and monitor their mental wellbeing using the Field Notes app.
To get to the heart of the matter, we utilised a diary study format. Participants were given specific tasks, such as being asked to complete their game diary and share a bit about how they felt shortly after finishing a gaming session. This allowed us to capture their emotions in the moment, rather than relying on delayed recall.
The Power of Audio Research
Discussing mental wellbeing can be a sensitive and highly personal experience. We know that forcing participants to appear on camera can sometimes be a barrier when exploring vulnerable topics.
To ensure the participants felt completely comfortable, we heavily leveraged our audio recording functionality. Audio is a remarkably powerful way to connect with sensitive groups, as it allows them to document key moments and struggles in an intimate, immediate way, perhaps while lying in the dark or relaxing after a game, all without the pressure of being “camera ready”. This feature offered the researchers immediate and unparalleled access to the gamers’ thoughts, and allowed the participants to document their experiences in a simple, quick, and authentic way.
The Impact
The combination of thoughtful research design and user-friendly technology led to a highly successful project. Reflecting on the collaboration, the Mental Health Foundation noted:
“The Field Notes team were outstanding in supporting us end-to-end. We wouldn’t have produced these results without this platform and the Field Notes team were a joy to work with throughout.”
Explore the Findings
The insights generated from this community of gamers provide a fascinating look into the modern digital experience.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, it is essential to seek advice and support. If you are in the UK, you can find valuable resources and immediate assistance through the following NHS link
