Gaming Social Events to Support the Well-being of Young People in Life Transitions

Gamer-Con is an international initiative that seeks to strengthen mental health, social inclusion, and employability among young people transitioning to adulthood, using video games as a tool to build connections and create supportive spaces.

Through a series of social events focused on gaming, Gamer-Con aims to create safe and welcoming communities where young people can share experiences, develop social skills such as communication and teamwork, and improve their emotional well-being. In this process, the project promotes an innovative approach called embedded well-being, which consists of integrating conversations about mental health into recreational activities in a natural and participatory way.

The project will be carried out in Iceland, Spain and Ireland and consists of four main phases: a survey of young people to find out their interests and needs; the organisation of weekly video game events over a two-month period; the evaluation of the impact of these activities on the well-being and social connections of the participants; and finally, the creation of a practical guide for educators and youth workers.