Entain Foundation US Monday announced a new esports mental wellness campaign. Mind Your Game, a partnership with the platform for gamer behavioral health Intenta, will use esports to engage participants and encourage healthy relationships with gaming, prioritizing mental health and well-being.
“We are committed to supporting initiatives that encourage responsible gambling and gaming,” said Entain Foundation U.S. and SVP for American Regulatory Affairs and Responsible Gambling Martin Lycka in a statement. “That’s why we’ve partnered with Intenta on the Mind Your Game campaign. Encouraging our players to actively manage their mental health is exactly the type of project we are proud to support.”
The announcement comes in the wake of Dreamhack Atlanta, the gaming lifestyle festival that took place November 18-20 at the Georgia World Congress.
The campaign intends to reach students, parents, educators, and professionals at more than 450 high schools and esports clubs in California, New York, Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio, and 35 other states. The campaign will raise awareness about the benefits and opportunities of gaming and esports, including enhanced problem-solving, improved memory, greater engagement in STEM subjects, and career opportunities. The program also will share safe play strategies to protect and improve student mental health and provide support pathways for those struggling with problematic gaming.
An esports educational series, Gaming World, a multimedia digital content platform, will include tools and worksheets on reflective thinking to facilitate mindfulness. The syllabus includes how gaming affects the brain, the risks of in-game overspending, and the importance of balance in esports.
“Many schools that will benefit from the Mind Your Game campaign are in low-income areas,” said Varsity Esports Federation Executive Director Bubba Gaeddert. “These students would not normally have access to these tools and insights or receive this level of support to reach their potential through gaming and esports.”
