Ashly Burch Joins Puppets for Candid Mental Health Chat

Ashly Burch, celebrated for her voice acting in video games like Horizon Zero Dawn and Life is Strange, has launched a YouTube series titled I'm Happy You're Here. This show focuses on mental health topics such as anxiety, addiction, and depression, using humor and puppetry to make difficult discussions more accessible. Burch, who has openly shared her own struggles with OCD and anxiety, aims to create a supportive environment for adults navigating these challenges. Her experiences with video games have played a significant role in her mental health journey, leading her to advocate for the therapeutic benefits of gaming.

Burch credits video games, especially titles like Harvest Moon 64, as a calming influence during her childhood struggles with anxiety and OCD, using gaming as a therapeutic tool to help regulate her emotions.

Ashly Burch's notable roles in the gaming industry, including Aloy in Horizon Zero Dawn and Chloe Price in Life is Strange, have not only shaped her career but also provided her with insights into the importance of representation within games. Through her storytelling and characters, she has helped broaden the spectrum of narratives available in gaming, particularly around themes of identity and mental health. Burch's dedication to these topics highlights the intersection of gaming and well-being, emphasizing the medium's potential to offer solace and support.