North American esports organisation Cloud9 has announced a mental health campaign, in partnership with healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente. 

The ‘Presence of Mind’ initiative will use gaming to reach young people for conversations addressing mental health and wellness, reduce stigma and encourage teens and young adults to prioritise their well-being. 

Experts from Kaiser Permanente will provide training to Cloud9 players, coaches and staff, and work with them to engage with the community on mental health issues. The partnership will also include a new content series on Twitch. The partnership will kick off with Cloud9’s League of Legends team this month. 

Discussing the partnership National Leader for Mental and Behavioral Health at Kaiser Permanente, Don Mordecai, said:

“Our goal is that Presence of Mind will contribute to a public health movement within esports by engaging teens, young adults, and other gamers in mental health conversations. The need is even more critical in this period of stress and physical isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Members of the esports community, with Cloud9 leading the way, can support each other’s mental health while also supporting their own well-being and resilience now and long into the future.”

While Founder and CEO of Cloud9, Jack Etienne, added:

“Partnering with Kaiser Permanente allows us to shine a spotlight on the importance of mental health and wellness in our community, and to set an example for everyone in our industry. Gaming and esports is a refuge for so many during this pandemic, and we want our fans and our players at their healthiest, both mentally and physically.”

According to Kaiser Permanente, online conversations regarding mental health have increased dramatically during the COVID-19 crisis, and it believes gaming and esports can play an important part in keeping people socially connected during these difficult times. 

AYO.NEWS says:

The unprecedented lockdowns initiated in response to the COVID-19 outbreak are clearly having extremely serious social and health consequences, with rates of mental illness rocketing in many countries. Esports, and video gaming in general, is providing a critical social link to the world for millions of people, so it’s great to see Cloud9 team up with experts to help provide support. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

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