#SafeInOurWorld, New Charity Launches on #MentalHealthDay for Videogame Enthusiasts
Today is World Mental Health Day, a massively important day that aims to get people talking about their struggles with mental illnesses and to help spread the world that no one is truly alone. However, we’ve all seen those social media ‘copy and paste’ posts and memes from friends trying to get us to talk. But I believe in most cases, we see it, but we don’t after react to it or at least result in the purpose of the posts existence.
Speaking from my own experiences, I am very private and even to those that I trust the most, I find it incredibly difficult to talk about my struggles. Many times I’ve sat there, imagining how a conversation will go, trying to push myself to just spit out the worlds and in most cases, by the time that happens (if at all), its seemingly random, out of nowhere and off-topic. When I do finally talk, I might feel anxious in the short-term, but in the long-term, I have found that talking does help, whether it is a family member, a loved one, friend, doctor or perhaps even someone that you trust privately on social media.
But there are times when we feel like there is no one to turn too or we might just not know how to find the help that we need. This is why days like today are vastly important, whether you suffer or not, the chances are that someone that you love does.
I also know that from experience, whether it’s playing videogame or writing about them, this industry one way or another, has helped me every day, practically for my whole life, feeling safe in my bubble. So today on World Mental Health Day, a new charity has launched called Safe in Our World, a charity that focus on those that develop games, talks about games, writes about games and plays games. Even if you have no interest in videogames what so ever, this charity is still for you.
Below you can find the official press release for the launch of Safe in Our World and remember, stranger, loved one or friend, there is someone out there that is willing to listen.
Safe In Our World (www.safeinourworld.org), a new mental health charity for the video games industry launches today on World Mental Health day with the aim of raising awareness of mental health issues among gamers and creators, and affecting positive change within the video games industry. With over 50 percent of the world’s population playing video games, and one in four people globally affected by mental health issues, the task ahead is daunting, but Safe In Our World will drive forward initiatives to support and help players around the world.
Safe in Our World is an accredited charity supported by industry luminaries, veterans and ambassadors across the world, and its mission is to create an online destination where people can seek help, gain access to resources and information, and discover stories from real people within and surrounding the games industry. Safe in Our World aims to enable conversations by destigmatizing the mental health conditions; helping a generation of creators, professionals and players come together in support of each other.
The first initiative from Safe In Our World is to highlight mental health issues through vital exposure in gaming experiences; beginning with Fractured Minds from 2017 BAFTA Young Games Designer award winner, Emily Mitchell, then a young 17 year old who found solace through game development. More projects will be announced in the coming weeks that will be supporting Safe In Our World.