Not talking extreme gaming here that would obviously have an impact on your physical and mental health but core gaming, Idk what the figure but best I can guess from PS wrap ups that core gamers are between 1000 - 1500 hours a year which is between 2.5 - 4 hours a day on average, probably less on week days with longer weekend sessions bumping the average. 

So the quest is, does this reasonable ammount of gaming help or hinder your mental health on a personal note or in general for others, adults that is?

I have some mental troubles, and personally, I think gaming help to ease their effects on me.

With games, I got a hobby. Something to help me escape from my problems and it gives me other things to think about. Honestly, I like to think more about video game worlds than non-existent problems that my mind tends to create.

Personally I'd have most certainly killed myself by now if it wasn't for games. To say reasonable gaming, average of 22.5 hours away week), has helped me immensely, I would say what for but they are a wonderful cure for me as long as I keep it whitin reason. Not only because it gives something to look forward to and is a great hobby which is powerful and true but...

Difficult boss fights have made me more patient, less prone to anger and less likely to give up on things outside of gaming and also has recently given me a perspective, after playing Khazan, that I should treat any life issue in the same way I tackle a souls boss. It might seem impossible at first but trying gets you there in the end. Difficult games, specifically FromSoft RPGs or clones of them have changed me as a person over the years but this past 12 months I have used them as inspiration to do better at them and thst bleeds into my life away from the controller.
I'll) also just mention the artistic nature, comfort, the interactive story telling where, the music...just the art form itself had moved me very deeply at times. During rough times, games have helped me immensely. These past four years they have gotten me through, I'm probably owe my life to games, no shit. I think they are the greatest artform man has created and once all the old art snobs pass out of way games will be recognised as just that, terrific art that melds all art together to become something greater. I own video games thst are better than any art having in a museum and by a long distance.

Great to hear they work for someone else too and pretty much the same as you, my mind is never for from games. Doctors should prescribe PS5's to patients suffering mental health issue, it'd be way better than the archaic medicines they love to prescribe.

Like everything in the world... It 100% depends on the person.
There is a balance to be had.

When you have individuals that devote 100% of their time to gaming to get that dopamine fix, then it's impactful to your mental health, it's a toxic addiction at that point.

Other people may use it as a way to "wind down" after a hard days worth of work, which is actually healthy.

And I think that just sums up and concludes the thread.

Gaming become idolatry when used to ameliorate mental ailments. That’s my two cents, take em or leave em. I don’t like the games where people get killed or engage in offensively sinful behaviors; that always ruins my mood. So, in that sense, they do damage my mental health…i guess lol. But when I’m playing Mario, for instance, no troubles. Just fun.

It's tough to say.
The desire I have to game (even when I don't take the time as much as I could) could be seen as a negative toll on my mental health.
Additionally, I've probably spent way too much on games as well. And that can hinder mental health.

I said in the OP to rule out extreme gaming, exteeme anything is bad, you can die from too much water. Let's hear some other peoples experiences or thoughts on the matter before wrapping. As well as my experiences there have been there has been three completely different takes. Even if people use games to wind down that could be a bad thing depending on someone's job or life situation. 

I wanna hear the reasons people have for it impacting their mental health whether negative or positive. 

My Gamecube got me through a lot of personal troubles in 2003-2004. My Switch helped keep my mind calm when I was flying back and forth to minister to my parents in the last years of their lives.

It definitely helps me. It's the one thing I love doing that allows me to simply enjoy some relaxing time without worry. Even other things I like doing like going out, dating or any other social interactions always come with a certain degree of anxiety and concern. Gaming allows me to have fun and enjoy great stories all by myself. I'm always happy when I'm playing.