There is a form of escapism in playing games - you can leave the drudgery of your old world behind and experience new things, become new characters, or live out fantasies you might not get the chance to do.

Gaming has become more popular and mainstream in recent years, with a Roy Morgan report from 2016 showing that almost one third of Australians aged 14 and over own a gaming console.

That same report showed of the country's 6.1 million console-game owners, only 500,000 belong to the Baby Boomer generation. The Digital Australia 2018 report showed that Australians spent on average five hours and 34 minutes each day on the internet, with the majority of time spent on social media platforms.

Screens are a part of our daily life and it is becoming more and more difficult to not use them - whether its for gaming or for recreation. However, gamers have been in the headlines in recent weeks, with the World Health Organisation officially recognising gaming disorder as a mental health issue.

In the US, gamers have also been held up as perpetrators of violence, following mass shootings in America.

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Gaming is addictive, it's hard to ignore, especially when you have access to all the games you could want on the device in your pocket. It may be an escapist recreational activity, but we all need to be mindful of how much time we are spending in front of the consoles. Gaming can be useful, as a tool to manage stress and can be a way to have fun with friends without having to be in the same room.

But you can't underestimate taking a break away from the console either. Games might be an escapist outlet but they shouldn't become your whole life and they should not replace your existing relationships.

There is no reason to suggest that games are bad for everyone but it's important to find balance - as with most things in life. It will be the key to maintaining good health.

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