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FOR EMBARGOED RELEASE: May 4th 2017, 1pm AEST
Webseries About Mental Health and Video Games Needs Your Help
Sydney, Australia – 4 May 2017 - Non-profit organisation CheckPoint has today
launched its Kickstarter campaign for a webseries that aims to help people with mental
health issues using the power of video games. CheckPoint needs to raise AU$55,000 to
fund a high quality, 16-episode webseries about mental health and video games called
CHECKPOINT. If funded, CHECKPOINT will feature evidence-based advice from mental
health professionals, as well as stories of lived experience from everyday heroes in the
games industry, including developers, journalists and content creators. This is the first
project of its kind, and CheckPoint believes it could change lives – or even save them.
Dr Jennifer Hazel, founder and executive director of CheckPoint, said: “If we get funded,
we’ll produce a high quality, 16-episode series to raise awareness for mental health issues,
reduce stigma, and improve the wellbeing of people all over the world. And we’re going to
use games and game culture to do it.”
Josh Scherr, writer of the award-winning Uncharted series for Naughty Dog, said: “I first
became familiar with Dr. Jennifer Hazel’s work after watching her presentation from the
2017 Game Developer’s Conference entitled “Invent a Game, Reinvent Yourself.” As
someone who not only plays video games, makes video games, and dealt with a nasty
panic disorder, the presentation spoke to me – and it’s something I wish I’d seen back in
2001, when I was going through the worst of it.
“Feelings of shame, fear, and helplessness are all too common among those suffering from
mental health issues; often, it makes taking that first step towards seeking help incredibly
difficult. Easy to access resources, such as this video series, are often invaluable in helping
people get past that initial hurdle, and as such, can be life-changing (if not outright lifesaving).
“Having since met Jennifer and spoken with her at length, it’s safe to say she’s incredibly
passionate about her work and dedicated to making people’s lives better. I hope you’ll
consider supporting her project, and I hope this series will encourage people struggling
with mental illness to seek the help they need.”
Globally one in four people experience a mental illness, with two thirds of those affected
never seeking help or treatment.
The series is planned to be split into two distinct parts. The first will focus on mental
health issues broadly, aiming to improve awareness and show people how to get help if
they need it. The second part will investigate how video games can be used to promote
positive wellbeing.
The Kickstarter campaign will run for 30 days, ending on June 3rd, and will include The
Monster Marathon Fundraising Stream, hosted at Twitch.TV from 19-21 May. The stream
will feature lots of different content creators and activities, with prize draws of amazing
loot up for grabs for those who donate to the Kickstarter.
CheckPoint works toward making a better life for everyone affected by mental health
issues, and believes that this can be done using video games and technology. CheckPoint
has experience in delivering this information at conferences worldwide. In 2016, Dr Hazel
gave the keynote speech at IndieCade GameU. At the Game Developers Conference 2017,
her talk, “Invent A Game, Reinvent Yourself” was top five in the Advocacy Track and 97
per cent of the reviews were positive. Dr Hazel hopes that this content can be of use to
even more people by making it free to watch online, with hours of content, interviews,
even more information, and high production values.
“The gaming community has embraced our work with open arms,” Dr Hazel explains.
“They have helped us get to where we are and we hope that what we provide makes it all
worth it. Gaming brings people together, there’s evidence to prove games can treat
anxiety, depression, improve mood, and so much more. We truly believe that we can
improve the lives of people all over the world by using the wonderful power of video
games - and that this is the community which will help us do it.”
ENDS
About CheckPoint
CheckPoint is a non-profit organisation based in Australia and New Zealand, which
acts to connect mental health resources with video games and technology.
The organisation is run by mental health and games industry professionals, and exists to
provide consultancy, advocacy, recreational activities and free resources. The
amalgamation of these knowledge-bases and professional networks enables
CheckPoint’s reach to span across both industries comprehensively, and ensure that the
information and education that it provides is accurate, relevant and implementable.
CheckPoint’s work includes, but is not limited to: delivering mental health workshops in
the games industry; bringing games to vulnerable people in conventions, drop in centres
and clinics, interventional game development, clinical research, schools programs, and
public speaking.
You can find out more on http://checkpoint.org.au, plus follow CheckPoint on Twitter,
Facebook, Instagram and Medium.
Media contact
•
For more information or interviews contact Dr Jennifer Hazel, founder and
executive director, CheckPoint on [email protected] or 1300 512 440.
Social Media Copy Suggestions
This non-profit needs your help to create a webseries about mental health and video
games. Become a Kickstarter backer today!
Non-profit CheckPoint launches Kickstarter to create a webseries about mental health
and video games.
Exclusive rewards available to earlybird backer of this webseries, raising awareness
about mental health issues and helping those affected.
NB: And of course feel free to write your own.
Official Webseries Artwork (click for full size)
Brand Images (click for full size)
Dr Jennifer Hazel at IndieCade
Dr Jennifer Hazel at Unite
Dr Jennifer Hazel and Jane Cocks (CheckPoint cofounders)