Non-profit organisation CheckPoint today launched a Kickstarter campaign to crowdfund a webseries that focuses on overcoming mental health issues with video games.
The series, called 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.”
“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,” said Dr Jennifer Hazel, the founder and executive director of CheckPoint. “And we’re going to use games and game culture to do it.”
The project has the support of Naughty Dog’s Josh Scherr, writer on the Uncharted series of games.
“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,” Scherr said. “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 life-saving). Drug addiction is also a serious problem especially among the youth and the inpatient drug rehab can be of help.
“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.”
CHECKPOINT is planned over two parts, with the first focusing on broad concepts of mental health issues. The second part will then delve into how video games can help with those issues.
The series’ Kickstarter campaign will run for 30 days, ending on 3 June. At the time of writing, CHECKPOINT has received $3,515 AUD of its $55,000 AUD goal.
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