Brief interventions for a person who is gaming

If advising an adolescent or adult who is concerned about their own gaming, offer the same empathic acknowledgements about the condition as outlined for family and friends.

A brief intervention could include:

• an offer of motivational interviewing
• encouragement to maintain some social contacts
• harm reduction discussions regarding good sleep practices, healthy diet and exercise, and mindfulness; Headspace has advice for adolescents on managing sleep and screen time
• referral to support services and specialist help
• information about resources they might access directly; see Support services and specialist treatment for gaming disorder.