Minecraft and other creative games are becoming recognised as powerful means of self-expression and mental health support, including for traumatised Ukrainian refugees
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leksii Sukhorukov’s son was 12 when the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. For months, the family existed in a state of trauma and disarray: Sukhorukov was forced to give up his work in the entertainment industry, which had included virtual reality and video games; they became isolated from friends and relatives. But amid the chaos, his boy had one outlet: Minecraft. Whatever was happening outside, he’d boot up Mojang’s block-building video game and escape.
“After 24 February 2022, I began to see the game in a completely different light,” says Sukhorukov. I discovered that Ukrainian children were playing together online; some living under Russian occupation, others in government-controlled areas of the country that were the targets of regular missile attacks; some had already become refugees. And yet they were still able to play together, support one another, and build their own world. Isn’t that amazing? I wanted to learn more about how video games can be used for good.”
Having previously gained a degree in psychology, Sukhorukov made the decision to go back to the profession, hoping to use his experiences in gaming and immersive entertainment. He is now a moderator at the Division of Cyberpsychology and Psychological Practice in Digital Environments at the National Psychological Association of Ukraine. In 2023, he set up HealGame Ukraine, a project to explore the use of video games for mental health support and emotional wellbeing. “Right now, together with Donetsk National Technical University, we are developing a Minecraft server to bring together Ukrainian children who feel especially isolated because of the war,” he says. “The server will be moderated by psychologists and social workers. We’re also planning Minecraft projects for children with special educational needs.”
