Being a League of Legends professional player doesn't only bring fame, as the celebrity also allows to reach masses — and that's precisely what the Presence of Mind initiative is all about: raising awareness towards mental health by using gaming as a medium.
This new campaign is the result of the partnership between Cloud9 and Kaiser Permanente, an American integrated managed care consortium.
“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," National Leader for Mental and Behavioral Health at Kaiser Permanente Don Mordecai, “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.”
Mental experts and clinicians from Kaiser Permanente will work in collaboration with Cloud9 to launch a new series of content on Twitch and propose to their players and staff mental health training.
“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," said Founder and CEO of Cloud9, Jack Etienne, "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.”
With the current controversy around the toxicity of the League community, and amid the coronavirus pandemic, we can hope that such an initiative will have a beneficial impact on players.
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