Auyrn, a 20-year-old from Cardiff, says he has always had gaming to keep him going.
This article is part of the Never Give In campaign, where 21 young Cardiffians were commissioned to create a piece of art showing how gaming affects their mental health. This is the story of Auryn, a 20-year-old artist who was part of the project.
How has gaming affected your mental health?
When I’ve been at my lowest and hardest times which really badly affected my life, I always had games to keep me going, entertained and engaged in something. Even if it wasn’t a triple-A game from a known company, it was still helping me to keep active and social online.
Gaming had me meet some of my oldest and closest friends and helped me maintain long-distance ones. To this day, it still helps me and my friend group stay in contact through this pandemic. We have the same banter just over discord or PlayStation party. It has always helped me and probably always will help me.
Gaming has also had a huge impact on my artwork, inspiring me to draw and create different ideas with different aesthetics and styles, whether it’s simple or it’s complicated.
What inspired you to create this artwork?
The meaning behind my art was mainly to get my view across on how gaming has helped me maintain my positivity and how the specific games I have included have influenced my art and my life more generally.
I wanted to showcase multiplayer childhood games like COD Zombies which I played with my sister and single-player games that rocked my world since I was a pre-teen like Titanfall 2 (which is why I added BT-7274 and Sgt Jack Cooper).
I think gaming has shaped me as a person since games have always been a main focus and pillar of mine since I was born. These morals and experiences have taught me life lessons, and through these heroes, villains and worlds I’ve found a home where I am comfortable. I am in control and I am as important as anyone else on this planet 😊
What message would you give to someone who is struggling with their mental health?
The point of a game is it’s supposed to immerse you in a world where you feel comfortable or you feel safe. Never feel wrong or ashamed for having games be your version of comfort. People can play golf or swim to feel better but if you decide to train Pokémon in Pallet Town or fight Talon with your team of Overwatch heroes, in my opinion, you’re doing the coolest thing in the world!
Related Information
To find out more about the Never Give In campaign and see the incredible artwork from all of the other artists, click HERE.
Struggling with your mental health? Check out TheSprout’s Mental Health Information Page where you can find loads of local and national support services.
If you’re sharing our posts from the Never Give In campaign on social media, remember to use the #PositiveMentalGaming hashtag. Feel free to tag us so we can see what you’re sharing!
