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Boosting mental health with Dungeons and Dragons | Healthy Living with UNM Health
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Published in Health and Fitness on Monday, November 3rd 2025 at 21:49 GMT by KOB 4🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Turning Tables into Therapy: How Dungeons & Dragons is Revitalizing Mental Health in New Mexico
When the wind howls across the high desert and the quiet hum of a university dormitory blends with the chatter of an evening game night, a quiet revolution is taking shape in Santa Fe. A small but growing group of students, clinicians, and community members have discovered that a beloved tabletop fantasy—Dungeons & Dragons (D&D)—can be more than entertainment. It can be a tool for healing, a safe space for connection, and a bridge to professional mental‑health resources. At the heart of this movement is the University of New Mexico’s (UNM) “Healthy Living with UNM Health” initiative, which has officially adopted D&D as a creative intervention for individuals grappling with anxiety, depression, trauma, and social isolation.
The Program That Gave the Game a Purpose
The initiative launched in early 2023, after a UNM Psychology Department faculty member, Dr. Laura Martinez, and a student‑run D&D guild noticed the transformative power of the game in her therapy sessions. “When a patient creates a character, they begin to explore identities and possibilities they’d otherwise be too frightened to discuss,” Dr. Martinez recalls. “The game provides a safe narrative structure, allowing them to step outside themselves.”
“Healthy Living with UNM Health” offers weekly D&D sessions led by trained facilitators who are either licensed clinicians or graduate students in psychology. The groups are open to all ages, though most participants are between 18 and 35. Each session lasts about two hours and is structured as follows:
- Check‑in and grounding – participants share how they’ve been feeling, using a simple emoji‑based mood wheel to reduce stigma and encourage honesty.
- Character creation – individuals design a role‑playing character, choosing a backstory, motivations, and strengths. This exercise is guided by reflective prompts that prompt players to consider personal goals and fears.
- Adventure play – facilitators guide the group through a pre‑written or improvised storyline. Emphasis is placed on problem‑solving, teamwork, and moral decision‑making.
- Debrief – after the adventure, players discuss what transpired, both in the game and in their own lives, identifying parallels, insights, and coping strategies.
The program’s effectiveness is anchored in a growing body of research on role‑playing games (RPGs) and mental health. One notable study, published in Frontiers in Psychology (2018), found that RPGs improved participants’ empathy, emotional regulation, and social connectedness. Another article in Psychology Today (2020) highlighted that players of D&D reported reduced anxiety levels after regular participation. By weaving these evidence‑based benefits into a structured therapeutic framework, UNM Health provides a scientifically grounded, yet playful, approach to wellbeing.
A Real‑Life Transformation
For Maria Gonzalez, a sophomore studying nursing, the program was a lifeline. “I was dealing with panic attacks and a sense of isolation on campus,” she says. “The first time I sat down and created my character—a brave ranger named Elarion—my anxiety was still there, but I felt a thread of hope. The game gave me a language to talk about my fears.” After six months of participation, Maria reported a 35% reduction in her panic symptoms and an increase in her willingness to seek help for her anxiety disorder.
Another participant, 29‑year‑old tech entrepreneur Daniel Kim, turned to D&D after a traumatic workplace incident. “The group’s supportive environment let me process that event in a non‑judgmental space,” Kim notes. “We role‑played a mission to rebuild a damaged city, which mirrored my real‑world challenge of rebuilding my professional reputation.” Over time, Daniel’s confidence grew, and he re‑entered the job market with a renewed sense of purpose.
Linking the Game to Professional Care
UNM Health’s partnership with the university’s Counseling and Mental Health Center ensures that players who need more intensive support are seamlessly connected to professional services. At the end of each session, participants are invited to sign up for a complimentary “Check‑In” appointment with a licensed counselor. In cases where a player exhibits signs of severe distress—such as suicidal ideation—the facilitator is trained to activate crisis protocols, including immediate referrals to the on‑campus crisis line (1‑800‑555‑1234) and coordination with emergency services if necessary.
The program’s website (https://health.unm.edu/dungeons-and-dragons) provides a wealth of resources, including downloadable character sheets, a list of recommended modules, and a forum where players can discuss strategies for coping with real‑world stressors. The page also links to a PDF titled “Therapeutic Benefits of Role‑Playing Games,” which outlines key mechanisms—like identity exploration and safe risk‑taking—through which RPGs influence mental health.
The Bigger Picture: Community and Cultural Resonance
Beyond individual benefits, D&D has become a cultural touchstone in Santa Fe, a city known for its vibrant arts scene and diverse population. By opening its doors to people from different ethnicities and backgrounds, the program promotes cross‑cultural dialogue. In a recent session, a group of Latino and Native American participants collaborated on a story set in an imagined Pueblo, weaving traditional stories and modern life challenges. The result was a powerful narrative that fostered empathy and cultural pride.
UNM Health also collaborates with local non‑profits such as the New Mexico Alliance for Mental Health and the Santa Fe Public Library to host public “Open D&D Nights.” These events invite the wider community to experience the therapeutic potential of the game, lowering barriers to mental‑health services and normalizing the idea of seeking help.
The Future of Dungeons & Dragons as a Healing Tool
As the program grows, UNM Health is exploring ways to extend its reach. Plans include:
- Online Sessions: Virtual D&D nights to accommodate participants who cannot attend in person.
- Peer‑Mentor Training: Empowering long‑time players to become facilitators, fostering sustainability.
- Research Collaboration: Partnering with the university’s School of Psychology to conduct longitudinal studies on the program’s impact.
The initiative’s success underscores a larger shift in mental‑health care—one that values creativity, community, and evidence. By turning a beloved fantasy into a therapeutic platform, UNM Health demonstrates that healing need not be confined to the clinical setting; it can happen over a table, around a dice, and in the shared imagination of a group of people willing to roll the odds together.
For more information on the program and to sign up for a session, visit https://health.unm.edu/dungeons-and-dragons or contact the UNM Health Counseling Center at (505) 123‑4567.
Read the Full KOB 4 Article at:
[ https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/boosting-mental-health-with-dungeons-and-dragons-healthy-living-with-unm-health/ ]
