Why Scotland’s Games Action Plan Matters for Digital Mental Health
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
The Scottish Parliament marked a meaningful moment not just for the games sector, but for the wider digital health and wellbeing ecosystem in Scotland.
Following the publication of “Level Up: Scotland’s Games Action Plan” by the Scottish Games Network, MSPs from across the chamber came together to recognise the sector’s growing economic, cultural and social impact, including its increasing relevance to areas such as digital mental health, behaviour change, and therapeutic innovation.
Contributions were made by Michael Marra MSP, Clare Adamson MSP, Daniel Johnston MSP, Liam Kerr MSP and Foysol Choudhury MSP, alongside a response from Business Minister Richard Lochhead MSP. Support for the Action Plan was widespread, with speakers highlighting the strength, creativity and productivity of Scotland’s games industry.
Crucially, while the Scottish Government stopped short of formally adopting the Action Plan in full, the debate delivered a significant outcome: a ministerial commitment to review the plan “line-by-line” at a future meeting of the Cross-Party Group for Scotland’s Games Ecosystem. This commitment signals a constructive and collaborative next step between policymakers and industry leaders.
For those working at the intersection of games, immersive technology and mental health, this moment matters. The Action Plan’s focus on skills, sustainable growth, responsible innovation and ecosystem support aligns closely with the needs of digital mental health developers, from serious games and therapeutic experiences to tools supporting prevention, engagement and recovery.
Momentum is now building, with discussions already underway to confirm a near-term date for the Cross-Party Group session. As Scotland continues to explore how creative technologies can support wellbeing at scale, this debate reinforces the role of the games sector as not just an economic driver, but a platform for positive social and mental health impact.
Brian Baglow, CEO, Scottish Games Network Said:
"The incredible cross-party support for Scotland's Games Action Plan confirms that videogames is a 'Golden Thread' for Scotland's digital future. Games technology can be transformative for medicine and healthcare, and our partnership with the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) is already exploring how to deliver these innovative solutions.
We hope to work with DHI to launch a dedicated healthcare and medicine focused 'More Than Games' event, showcasing how games tools can redefine the future of care. Our goal of establishing a national games innovation centre was informed directly by the incredible work already delivered in Scotland by organisations like the DHI and The Data Lab. So, working with them moving forward will provide Scotland with a valuable new opportunity to innovate and explore the role of games in every citizen's wellbeing.
The Minister’s commitment to a line-by-line review of our Plan is the signal we need to ensure this expertise is fully harnessed for the health and prosperity of every citizen in Scotland."
If you missed it, you can watch the full debate here: Watch Debate
