We’ve developed a Mental Health Guide for Community Managers, and compiled a list of ways players, leaders and colleagues can look out for our industry’s unsung heroes.

Community Managers serve as the bridge between players and developers, relaying feedback, providing updates, and moderating community spaces. It can be a rewarding role, but it’s also a job that never stops. As one time zone goes to bed, there’s another just logging on.

Finding a good work-life balance can be tricky for anyone working in the games industry, but it’s especially challenging for those who care for our online communities. Safe In Our World has explored ways communities, employers and colleagues can support our Community Managers – and we’ve created a guide to maintaining good mental health for Community Managers.

Supporting Community Managers as a Player

• Be mindful of time zones (and check the rules on pinging in Discord servers)
• Check the FAQ before asking your question (to save CM from repeating themselves)
• Be patient as CMs get to your question (they’re juggling a lot of responsibilities)
• Be descriptive when reporting a problem (include reproduction steps if you can)
• Approach Community Managers with good faith (they want to help!)

💡 You can help Community Managers by modelling the kinds of behaviours you’d want to see in the community. Being kind, friendly and helpful with other players (and the devs) is a quiet but impactful way to help CMs nurture a healthy, non-toxic community.

Supporting Community Managers as a Leader

• Set a good example with your work-life balance (leave loudly, remind them to take breaks)
• Encourage every team member to turn notifications off when out of the office
• Discuss a plan for cover when your Community Manager goes on holiday (so they can fully switch off)
• Read our Mental Health Guide for Community Managers (to have a better idea of how they can look after themselves)

💡 For some, switching off from work isn’t just difficult – it can cause anxiety. Worrying about what might go wrong in their absence, or how big their workload will become when they’re back. We’ve got a blog about absence anxiety with recommendations for how to overcome it. It’s a good read for any employer or manager.

Supporting Community Managers as a Colleague

• Follow your company’s social media guidelines and procedures (if in doubt, ask!)
• Offer to support on communication channels for when your CM is on leave
• Help to develop the process for player feedback so your CM knows what you need (and what to ask your players for)
• Send our Mental Health Guide for Community Managers to your CM(s)

💡 Community Managers take your wellbeing very seriously. Sometimes they go to great lengths to soften feedback and criticism – so it’s important you don’t undo all that effort by doom-scrolling. We’ve got a blog about doom-scrolling and protecting your mental health online, to help you stay safe and avoid harmful behaviours.

Mental Health Guide for Community Managers

Safe In Our World has refreshed our FREE Mental Health Guide for Community Managers, which highlights 10 actions you can take as a Community Manager to maintain your wellbeing, achieve work-life balance, and set effective boundaries.

Consider sharing this with Community Managers on your team, in your communities and internal work channels. It’s packed full of tips for safeguarding your emotional health (and works just as well for moderators and helpful community members).