In celebration of World Mental Health Day, Safe In Our World has officially been announced, looking to raise awareness about mental health in the video games industry, but also, to help those who need it.
Let me be straight: Living with a mental illness is not a joke. It sucks. Whether you are in the video games industry or not, it’s not something you would wish on your worst of enemies, and for some, they live in silence with illnesses ranging from bipolar disorder to more serious ones that can include issues such as social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or a variety of other disorders that affect many in or world.
With over fifty percent of the world’s population playing video games, and one in four people being affected by a mental health issue, the task to help our world feel safe to them, welcoming, is a daunting one. Finding help can be as troubling as it sounds, and Safe In Our World wants to change that, they want to drive forward initiatives to support and help gamers around the world.
It wasn’t until yesterday I was approached by some of our friends, being informed about this highly accredited charity that’s support by industry luminaries, veterans, and ambassadors from across the world, as well as their mission to create an online destination where those, like myself, who suffer from a mental illness or are struggling with a mental health ordeal, find and discover ways to seek help, to gain access to resources and information, and discover stories from real people within the gaming industry.
Their goal at Safe In Our World isn’t just to help those who need help, but to also enable conversations by destigmatizing the mental health conditions that affect people of our world today. By helping a generation of creators, professionals, and video game players come together, Safe In Our World will provide a support network for everyone under the video games umbrella.
Their first initiative, is impressive, which sees them highlighting mental health issues through vital exposure through video game experiences. One of those games in the shape of Fractured Minds from Emily Mitchell, who won the 2017 BAFTA Young Games Design award at 17 years old. Safe In Our World will be announcing more projects that support the initiative at a later date, which – we hope – can include games such as Kind Words and Town of Light.
But for those wondering, Fractured Mind isn’t just a game, it’s a depiction of Emily’s personal struggles with mental health issues, reflecting the true spirit of how games can help or make those who are struggling in silence, have someone to relate to, affecting them in a positive light. In today’s reveal, Emily and Wired Productions have announced that Fractured Minds will be launching soon in digital format for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch for $1.99.
Gaming industry veterans Gareth Williams, Leo Zullo, and Neil Broadhead, alongside Aaron Cooper and Al Hibberd, helped create Safe In Our World, which was originally envisioned by Cooper and Hibberd in 2017 by giving gamers a safe haven to turn to in their times of need. They researched everything they could, working together meticulously to ensure they could do it, taking the necessary steps to create Safe In Our World, an entity supported by a diverse range of like-minded international companies and individuals who aim to make the world a better place.
They aren’t opting out from developers, publishers, service providers, or even content creators in how they can support the charity, allowing each person or entity to spread the world, help it grow, and ultimately – make the world a better place.
Chair and Trustee, Leo Zullo commented, “The video games industry creates worlds for a huge number of vulnerable people, and it is our duty to help and support them. We can reach them and share this message if we work together; we can actually make a difference.” He continued, “Safe In Our World is the first step in these efforts, and we’re delighted with the response within the industry and the partners and individuals who are joining this initiative.”
Gina Jackson, Trustee for Safe In Our World commented, “There’s so much work to do in both awareness and the changing of attitudes within our industry, as well as within the communities we create and serve. Safe In Our World takes its first steps today, and we’re delighted that Emily has allowed Fractured Minds to support the charity. It’s such a poignant experience, and one we’re humbled she’s allowing us to share with the world in aid of Safe In Our World.”
Safe In Our World launches today in support of World Mental Health Day. The website, www.safeinourworld.org is online now and will see features added in the coming months. Remember, it’s dangerous to go alone.
About the Writer(s):
Dustin is our native console gamer, PlayStation and Nintendo reviewer who has an appetite for anything that crosses the borders from across the big pond. His interest in JRPG’s, Anime, Handheld Gaming, and Pizza is insatiable. His elitist attitude gives him direction, want, and a need for the hardest difficulties in games, which is fun to watch, and hilarity at its finest. You can find him over on Twitter or Facebook.