Safe In Our World announces free workshops to help the games industry protect their mental health through redundancy

The last month has been the worst for games industry layoffs this year, and with over 8,000 people impacted by redundancy in 2026 so far, Safe In Our World is facilitating free, expert-led sessions to build resilience and protect your mental health amid job insecurity.

For many people, redundancy is a scary word. For people in the video game industry, it’s also a familiar word. Navigating the uncertainty that comes with a job loss (or even the looming possibility of being out of work) can have a significant impact on your mental health.

What if I can’t find anything else?
What if I need to reskill to find work?
What if I am not good enough?

Your mind might be swimming in “what ifs”, making it hard to see a path forward. If this feels familiar, you might benefit from Safe In Our World’s free online workshops for people facing uncertainty due to games industry layoffs.

Protect your mental health during games industry layoffs

There are no easy answers to the challenges you’re facing, but there are strategies you can learn to help control the panic and manage the stress of redundancy. There are tools to support your mental health during this difficult time, and we’re here to help you access them.

Stuart John Chuan, experienced psychologist and member of Safe In Our World’s Clinical Advisory Board, will return to deliver three interactive online workshops for people impacted by job losses in the video game industry.

Stuart is such a good host, very knowledgeable, calm and allows people time to share… Really helpful information and actionable points. – Attendee

Build your toolkit for emotional resilience

Our workshops will be free to access, and they will focus on providing you with practical psychological tools to maintain your wellbeing during periods of change. You’ll learn how to:

Process the emotional impact of change with self-compassion
Cultivate your resilience to manage stress and uncertainty
Nurture your identity and self-worth
Develop an effective problem-solving approach for the challenges ahead
Build acceptance for circumstances beyond your control

Through guided activities, personal reflections, and group discussions in a confidential setting, you’ll gain valuable insights into how to navigate change with greater psychological resilience. Book now and build your own wellbeing toolkit to navigate games industry layoffs.

📅 Wednesday 5th August – 12:30-1:30pm BST
📅 Friday 7th August – 4:00-5:00pm BST
📅 Tuesday 18th August – 11:30-12:30pm BST

Upon completion of the workshop, you will receive a resource sheet summarising key learnings, as well as activity sheets for daily or weekly mental health check-ins to help you track changes in how you’re feeling as you apply what you’ve learned.

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Your essential self-care checklist for Develop:Brighton

This isn’t an article; it’s a checklist – helping you practice good self-care at Develop:Brighton 2026.

We’ve done this before, and we’ll keep doing it so long as it helps just one person stay healthy and happy at video game industry events like Develop:Brighton. Let’s start by taking a look at your wellbeing toolkit.

Pack your self-care essentials

What you carry with you will make all the difference to your wellbeing. You want to prioritise essentials that help you hydrate, fuel your body, and self-regulate. Remember, you’ll be carrying this bag all day, so it’s important not to weigh yourself down.

Everyone’s needs will be different, but here are some common essentials to get you started…

500ml water bottle (ideally one that’s easy to refill)
Lightweight, shelf-stable snacks (e.g. protein bars)
Small fidget toys
Travel-sized personal care products (e.g. hand sanitiser, sunscreen)
Earplugs, noise-cancelling headphones, etc.
Portable hand fan
Any medication/pain relief
Throat lozenges (thank us later)
Phone charger or portable battery

Choosing the right bag can help reduce your stress at events! Make sure it’s comfortable to wear and has compartments to help you find what you’re looking for, fast. If your bag doesn’t have compartments (e.g. a tote bag), you can avoid rummaging by keeping your smaller essentials (e.g. hand sanitiser, lip balm, fidget toy) in a smaller pouch – that makes transferring between bags easier too!

Plan your self-care strategy for Develop:Brighton

Nobody can expect to bring their best self to an industry event when their best self isn’t receiving self-care. With the pressure felt across the video game industry, it’s understandable if you feel you need to make every moment count at events like Develop:Brighton. Productivity is the name of the game – but here’s the thing: self-care is productive.

With that in mind, here are some important reminders to help you reframe your schedule and make space for more than just meetings…

Stay hydrated – dehydration can cause fatigue, headaches, and negatively impact your memory (not great when you’re trying to remember people’s names.
Don’t skip meals – you’re probably expending more energy than usual, flitting between meetings and roundtables. Now is not the time to ditch your usual eating habits!
Allow yourself regular breaks – you’re going to do a lot of walking, so give your body time to rest too. Be the person who suggests sitting down; you might help someone else as well as yourself.
Get fresh air – you might not notice it at first, but the quality of air suffers at big events, which can cause headaches and tiredness, so don’t forget to step outside and breathe in that salty sea air.
Check in with yourself – make time to consider how you’re feeling, physically, mentally, and emotionally. This can help you avoid overstretching yourself and feeling burned out.
Say no – you are allowed to set boundaries. That means if you don’t want to attend a party, or have an alcoholic drink, or go somewhere you’re unfamiliar, or stay up late… you can say no.
Prioritise your sleep – a poor night of sleep will negatively impact your memory, concentration, and overall enjoyment of the event. Listen to your body and give it the recovery time it needs.

You might not feel there’s much use in scheduling in self-care, because surely these are just things you’ll remember or won’t even need to consciously think about. But you’d be surprised what gets forgotten when you’re in the thick of it. Don’t leave your wellbeing to chance. Make a conscious effort to look after yourself (especially at an event that has historically been very warm).

Provide self-care reminders to others

Maybe you feel you’ve nailed self-care at events. We tip our proverbial hats to you! In all seriousness, these aren’t easy habits to get into, so well done.

You might remember what it was like before you started to pay closer attention to your self-care. Maybe you felt silly doing check-ins with yourself, or you felt pressure from your peers to crack on and push through.

Be the voice you needed to hear back then. You can do this by reassuring people they’re okay to take a break and a breather, but you can also lead by example. When you decide to refill your water bottle, suggest your peers accompany you to do the same. If you think it’s time for some fresh air, suggest you take the conversation outside. When you think it’s time for food, ask what everyone’s lunch plans are! It’s those small reminders that get us all into better habits.

We hope you have an enjoyable, productive, and safe time at Develop:Brighton. Remember, you can find Safe In Our World at our official Safe Break mixer on Tuesday (14th July 2026), and at the expo on the Wednesday and Thursday!

You can also visit The Wellbeing Hub for a free-to-access space to pause, reflect, and recharge (and there’ll be paid activities like yoga, sound baths, and more – with the funds raised supporting us and our friends at SpecialEffect).

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10 ways to be a better disability ally

July is Disability Pride Month, and we’re exploring some of the ways you can be a better ally to your loved ones and colleagues who identify as disabled.

The Medical VS Social Model of Disability

Disability means different things to different people. The medical model of disability argues that physical and/or mental limitations or impairments are what make a person disabled. While this framework has had a significant impact on medical progress, it doesn’t account for an individual’s social and geographical environment.

Disabilities are seen as something that deviates from what’s typical; something that needs “fixing”. Put bluntly, under the medical model, if you can’t walk, your legs are the problem – not the lack of a ramp or lift.

The social model of disability considers disability to be the social consequence of having an impairment in a world that has not been built to accommodate it. It looks at ways to remove barriers and challenge systemic issues.

Redesigning the world with disabilities in mind can allow disabled people to live independent and equal lives in society. Revisiting our previous example, under the social model, if you can’t walk, the lack of a ramp or lift is the problem – not your legs.

Disability stereotypes in the media

Many of us have been influenced by the way disability has been portrayed on screen. We’ve seen the blind character on TV, wearing dark glasses and using a cane. We’ve encountered Deaf characters with a significant speech impairment.

We’ve witnessed wheelchair users wielded as a narrative device about overcoming adversity, autistic characters depicted as a young, white boy throwing a temper tantrum, or savants needing to be isolated in an institution (think Rain Man).

The media’s tendency to perpetuate stereotypes by oversimplifying disabilities has a huge impact on visibility. It regularly overlooks chronic conditions, intersectional experiences, and the fact that every disability exists on a spectrum.

Authentic representation is vital, powerful – it shapes public opinion by educating those who wouldn’t otherwise have much interaction with disabled people. It encourages a more inclusive society by making disabled people feel seen, and it helps us develop empathy.

Hidden and Dynamic Disabilities

Disabilities aren’t always visible. Be it a job advertisement encouraging disabled people to apply or the sign for accessible car parking, we often see wheelchair users depicted to communicate “disability”.

As we work towards meaningful inclusion and psychological safety, disabilities need to be recognised beyond that which we can see. Organisations like Unseen Aware make it their mission to educate people in how to become better allies.

Disabilities like hearing loss, ADHD, or stammering are all often overlooked because they’re less visible, and they often have dynamic symptoms – where symptoms, severity and impact can change day to day, or even hour to hour).

For people with dynamic disabilities like arthritis, fibromyalgia, or Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, it can be hard to predict how they’re going to feel each day. In addition to the lack of recognition, these disabilities often face increased stigma due to the different levels of support needed on different days.

Disability and Intersectionality

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 16% of the world’s population experiences a significant disability. Furthermore, disabled people who fall into other marginalised groups are more likely to face other health issues due to the additional stress related to being marginalised.

When people don’t have equal rights or aren’t accepted in society, it directly impacts their physical and mental health. If more than one part of a person’s identity is considered marginalised, they’re more likely to experience discrimination and face barriers in all aspects of our society.

Being a better ally

A disability ally is someone who actively supports the rights of disabled people without being disabled themselves. Being a good ally takes more than verbal support, so we’ve pulled together a list of 10 steps you can take to better support disabled people.

Educate yourself on disabilities. Take initiative and start learning about different disabilities, challenges that disabled people may face, and adjustments that could help them.
Actively listen! The disabled community has a saying: nothing about us without us. Make it a priority to listen and discuss the needs and concerns of disabled people in your life.
Do not assume. Take what you’ve learned in this article about hidden or dynamic disabilities, and don’t assume someone is or isn’t disabled by how they look. Don’t assume they’re exaggerating, or faking, just because their symptoms fluctuate – and avoid assumptions about a person’s capabilities based on their disability.
Empathise and be respectful. Language is powerful, so make sure to avoid using stigmatising or exclusionary language. You can ask questions to better understand without being invasive, and you can encourage someone while trusting and respecting their boundaries.
Use your privilege to advocate. 9 out of 10 disabled people have experienced negative attitudes at work.

A - Acknowledge (and respect) individual experiences and abilities L - Learn about different disability types L - Leverage your influence and privilege to promote accessibility and inclusion Y - Yield the floor to people with disabilities to help identify and eliminate barriers

Creating a more inclusive workplace

Designing workplaces with inclusivity in mind benefits everyone, not just disabled people. With one-third of our lives spent at work, it’s crucial to create work environments that allow for psychological safety, inclusivity, and positive mental health. To continue our list, here are some best practices for employers when building more inclusive workplaces:

Develop your knowledge in workplace accessibility. Safe In Our World has created a workplace accessibility toolkit, providing guidance and information from hiring and onboarding practices, to ongoing communication and social accessibility.
Give your leadership the right tools. Provide line managers with disability inclusion training, as well as the tools and knowledge to support to support employees with reasonable workplace adjustments. Invest time into upskilling communication skills in management to build trust and psychological safety.
Listen to disabled employees and colleagues. Actively listening to disabled employees will help you gain a better understanding of their lived experiences, needs, and concerns. It’ll help you understand accessibility barriers, improving workplace culture and ways of working.
Design inclusive physical workplaces. Prioritising workplace design doesn’t just mean providing ergonomic chairs and opening windows regularly. Consider accommodations for physical and developmental disabilities alike: from step-free access and accessible meeting rooms, tactile signage and adjustable desks, to quiet rooms and natural light.
Amplify disabled voices! Beyond policies and accommodations, disability inclusion is about ensuring employees with disabilities are represented in projects and leadership positions. Consider establishing culture groups for disability advocacy, and supporting growth through mentoring and development programmes.

Become a Level Up partner

If you’re looking for more support with workplace inclusivity, become a Level Up partner. Our free mental health initiative provides you with even more resources, webinars, and toolkits to help your leaders and your teams become more confident in creating accessible work environments that support their mental health.

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Safe In Our World reveals game-changing collaborations and mental health initiatives in its first-ever public Impact Report

Safe In Our World has just released its Impact Report 2025 – 2026, a breakdown of all the mental health initiatives our charity has delivered over the last 12 months – supported by our trustees, patrons, partners, ambassadors, and friends across the video games industry.

This is an exciting announcement for us! Something we’ve wanted to do more as a team is shout about all the cool projects and important work we get to do as a mental health charity in the video game industry. And what better way to celebrate a year of exciting creativity, campaigns, and collaborations than with an Impact Report?

Mental health in the video game industry

The video game industry has a big burnout problem. The pressure to perform, to crunch, to deliver in the face of job insecurity – it’s having a significant impact on the mental health of the people making our industry tick.

It’s a tough thing to lose that spark – the very thing that makes your imagination run wild and allows creativity to blossom. With over 3,000 games industry professionals already made redundant in 2026, it’s even harder to hold on to your passion and protect your mental health.

That’s why what we do is so important, so vital, to the health of our industry. Safe In Our World is answering the need for mental health training and resources in our workplaces. We’re increasing awareness and providing practical tools to boost workplace wellbeing across the global games industry.

We’ve been working to protect your mental health

Since Safe In Our World was established, we’re proud to have supported 70,000+ employees across the video game industry with free mental health resources. Our charity has now trained over 400 video game industry professionals in mental health awareness, delivering $450,000 in free training to date.

“Individuals and organisations have felt the instability and mounting pressures that threaten jobs, businesses, and livelihoods. We believe no one should be left to face mental health challenges alone.” – Sarah Sorrell, Charity Director

Last year, Safe In Our World launched the games industry’s first-ever mental health accreditation, the Mental Health Star Accreditation. This flagship offering represents a significant step towards recognising the companies driving positive change in mental health within the industry. It also provides practical tools and insights on how companies can better support their employees.

We’ve also given our Level Up Mental Health programme an overhaul this year, to further reduce barriers to information about mental health and workplace wellbeing. Our monthly live webinars are now open to all, with a catch-up service and additional mental health resources available exclusively to our Level Up partners.

Sky and Sarah from Safe In Our World attending gamescom and taking a selfie outside the venue.

Sky (Head of Programmes) and Sarah (Charity Director) attending gamescom to bring mental health resources to the games industry.

We support gamers with their mental health

Safe In Our World has also been working hard this year to improve the mental health tools and resources available to gamers. In 2025, we collaborated with Ubisoft to deliver three downloadable resources for kids, teens, and parents (available in five languages). The Good Game Playbooks help young people navigate online toxicity and protect their mental health while playing online games.

And this year, we teamed up with AbleToPlay to introduce a new category on the game search platform, helping players find games that align with their mental health needs and interests. Headspace launched in May, and gives gamers the ability to discover games that share educational insights about mental health, centre mental health in their narratives or design, or can directly help the player’s mood.

“Thousands of players have found games with the new Headspace category. Players have told us this new category is a game-changer – a seriously positive source of support for their needs.” – Arman Nobari, Co-founder of AbleToPlay

Bridie, Hannah, Em, Sky and Jess from Safe In Our World arrive at RuneFest 2025 and take a selfie together at the entrance.

Safe In Our World team and volunteers attending RuneFest 2025 to bring mental health resources to gamers.

A new chapter for Safe In Our World

Safe In Our World is excited to start another chapter in our charity’s story. As the video game industry grows and changes, so will we, adapting to the needs of those who play games and those who make them.

Going forward, we’re focusing on building strong foundations for our charity’s future and amplifying our existing work to ensure everyone can benefit from our free mental health tools, training, and resources.

We’re also excited about securing new revenue streams and partnerships, so if you’re thinking maybe my games company would look good in Safe In Our World’s Impact Report next year (and if you weren’t, you are now), then get in touch.

But most of all, we’re committed to continuing our mission and boosting support for gamers through new mental health initiatives. It’s why we’re here, it’s what we do, and we feel honoured to do it.

The Safe In Our World team, Sky, Sarah, Em, Jess, and Izzie, at Develop:Brighton 2025, at a stall for the mental health charity.

The Safe In Our World team raising awareness and providing mental health training and resources at Develop:Brighton 2025.

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Safe In Our World’s mixer, Safe Break, returns to Develop:Brighton for its second year!

Safe In Our World will be hosting its second Safe Break mixer at Develop:Brighton to share mental health best practices for the games industry.

Safe Break is back for year two at Develop:Brighton, this time at sunny Sea Lanes. Last year, we welcomed games industry professionals and aspiring devs to our inaugural Safe Break mixer. It was a space for gentle networking and discussions on best practices for self-care at events and conferences.

This year, we’re excited to welcome you back for more discussions around mental health best practices in the games industry. Much has happened in the last 12 months, including the launch of Safe In Our World’s Mental Health Star Accreditation.

Graphic showing a colourful simplistic representation of Brighton, with text Safe Break at Develop Brighton, Tuesday 14 July, 11am to 2pm, Sea Lanes, Brighton BN2 1BX

Join us on the sunny rooftop terrace of Sea Lanes to talk with us about getting accredited, or becoming a Level Up partner, and accessing free mental health tools, resources, and monthly training opportunities.

Safe In Our World is committed to providing alcohol-free, relaxed mixers that welcome both new and seasoned Develop:Brighton goers. Ease into the hustle and bustle of the event, see familiar faces, make new connections, and take a safe break.

What’s on at Safe Break 2026

Alongside networking opportunities, our annual mixer gives you a chance to self-regulate and check in on your mental health. We’ll have:

Discussions around mental health and workplace wellbeing
Self-care activity sheets
Safe In Our World goodie bags
Coffee, pastries, and sandwiches (V, VG available)

The entire Safe In Our World team will be at our Safe Break mixer, making it an ideal opportunity to meet the people behind our charity and learn how we can support you and your workplace.

📅 Tuesday 14 July, 11am – 2pm
📌 Sea Lanes, 300 Madeira Drive, Brighton BN2 1BX
🎫 Get your tickets for Safe Break 2026

Tickets are £5, which goes directly to supporting our charity. We’re mindful that the cost of admission may be a barrier for some event-goers. Please reach out to us if this applies to you – email hello@safeinourworld.com for support.

📢 Safe In Our World would like to thank Electric Square for sponsoring our Safe Break mixer this year.

Getting ready for Develop:Brighton

Last year, we shared 7 event self-care tips for surviving Develop:Brighton. Staying hydrated, making time for breaks – sure, they sound like the basics now, but when you’re in the thick of it, they’re often the first to be forgotten.

When the pressure is on, and we’re all preoccupied with productivity, that stress begins to take a toll on our mental health – but there are things you can do!

Check out the Event Safety Standards Guide, made in collaboration with Take This, for guidance on attending game industry events, staying safe, and accessing local support.

TicketSource is set to a £5 minimum donation, but you are welcome to donate more. All proceeds from ticket sales for this event will go towards Safe In Our World’s mission to support mental health in the games industry and global gaming communities. If you choose to donate more, additional donations can be used to give individuals experiencing financial difficulty the opportunity to attend this event free of charge.

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Headspace: Discover games with mental health benefits through AbleToPlay

Safe In Our World has partnered with AbleToPlay to create “Headspace” – a new mental health-focused category on the community-driven platform that helps gamers discover accessible games!

We’re thrilled to announce that Safe In Our World has been working with the amazing folks at AbleToPlay to develop a new way for gamers to discover games with mental health benefits. But first, what is AbleToPlay?

AbleToPlay helps players find accessible games

AbleToPlay is a free, community-driven platform that helps gamers with disabilities find games they can fully enjoy. You can create a private profile of your physical and cognitive accessibility needs, then search for games that meet them. Whether you’re looking for subtitle customisation, cross-platform coop, or simply want to avoid games with spiders, AbleToPlay is the platform to turn to in your search.

Safe In Our World jumped at the chance to collaborate on a new category for AbleToPlay, focusing on finding games that can help players relax, encourage social connection, offer a creative outlet, and much more. And so, Headspace was born!

“Mental health is a fundamental part of accessibility, and knowing what kind of game you’re about to jump into can be the difference between finding a new favorite, or being caught off-guard,” said Arman Nobari, co-founder of AbleToPlay. “Our partnership with Safe In Our World seeks to bring new kinds of support to gamers everywhere, to find games that truly fit their needs.”

Headspace highlights the mental health benefits of gaming

With the input of our Clinical Advisory Board, Safe In Our World determined the criteria for the Headspace category. We wanted Headspace to help players appreciate the scope of how games can support their mental health, which is reflected in the options presented to users.

You can refine your search to include low-pressure games that help you unwind, or find games that challenge you in meaningful ways. You can opt for games that feel familiar, soothing, and safe through task-based play, or team up to build relationships through cooperative gaming.

If you’re in the mood to learn, Headspace help you discover games that share educational insights about mental health, or games that centre a personal mental health story or lived experience as the narrative or design. There’s even the option to help you find games that teach self-soothing or therapeutic techniques, such as grounding or breathing.

“Games have an incredible capacity to educate and support mental ill health and mental illness,” says Sky Tunley-Stainton, Head of Programmes at Safe In Our World. “We are thrilled to have been able to work with AbleToPlay on the Headspace Mental Health category to help gamers identify titles that can support them in gaining knowledge, skills, or simply a relaxing escape for managing their own mental health.”

We’re excited for you to discover the many benefits that AbleToPlay brings to the video game community – and explore how Headspace can help your mental health! Why not set up a profile and see for yourself?

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Safe In Our World Ambassadors try out modular gaming hardware for Global Accessibility Awareness Day

Two Safe In Our World Ambassadors tested accessible gaming hardware designed by Thumb Soldiers for Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2026.

THUMB SOLDIERS: IN A NUTSHELL

Safe In Our World met with David Chapman and Roxanne Needham, the founders of Thumb Soldiers, who shared their mission to revolutionise how we engage with video games. Designed by gamers, for gamers, their modular gaming controller attachments were developed to improve comfort and performance during play.

“Thumb Soldiers tackles problems like pain during play, limited grip or dexterity, or even just fatigue after a short session,” says David, who shared his own struggles with thumbstick control since starting gaming in the 80s.

“It’s like footwear,” explains Roxanne. “You wouldn’t wear the same shoes for football, racing, or golf. You’d wear the right shoes to perform at your best – and it’s the same with thumb grips when you’re gaming.”

Someone out of frame, holding a gaming controller in front of a TV. The controller has attachments for improved accessibility, created by Thumb Soldiers.

HARDWARE FOR GAMING ACCESSIBILITY

At Safe In Our World, we believe that video games can be a great source of comfort, offering opportunities to connect, create, and blow off steam! As a mental health charity in games, we’re proud advocates for accessibility. Everyone should be able to play games and enjoy the benefits to their mental health.

So, we were curious to learn more about how Thumb Soldiers could help improve accessibility during gaming, addressing physical barriers (that we sometimes don’t even notice). We asked two Safe In Our World ambassadors to test the hardware and share their feedback.

“GAMES ARE MY JOY!”

After trying out hardware from Thumb Soldiers for their Nintendo Switch, Ladell, Class of 2023, shared that the Stud and Rock n Roller attachments opened up new gaming opportunities. “I was able to play games that I’ve not previously been able to focus on, such as Hades (1 and 2). The hardware lessened my thumb cramp and strain – and allowed me to rest them a lot easier on a bigger surface area.”

To our delight, Ladell also reported less pain after using the attachments compared to their usual levels. “I have chronic pain, so holding controllers (especially a handheld like the Switch) for long periods of time is never fun – but games are my joy!”

“Having this tech allows me to ease the strain,” says Ladell. “It did make me feel more hopeful about what games I can now play on my Switch.”

“GAMES ARE ALREADY SO EXPENSIVE”

When asked about accessibility in games and how this impacts mental health, Ladell said, “I rely on games as one of my key mood boosters. My body can have up days and down days, and not being able to play due to a lack of accessibility angers and upsets me. I can find myself retreating and feeling isolated because of things out of my control.”

A Nintendo Switch with added attachments to improve accessibility, provided by Thumb Soldiers.

Ladell noted that they wished the attachments came in more colours (ideally pink), but that it was a joy to discover affordable hardware to improve gaming accessibility. “One of my biggest problems with accessibility is the pricing behind it,” Ladell explains. “Games are already so expensive.”

“I’m currently unemployed, so knowing there’s tech out there that can enhance my gaming, that doesn’t require me to sell my soul, makes me smile.”

“IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING YOU TAILOR TO YOURSELF”

Codie, Class of 2026, noted that she loved how modular the hardware is and how simple it felt to swap pieces around. “Thumb Soldiers aren’t trying to make this a one-size-fits-all solution. It feels like something you tailor to yourself, which I think is really important for accessibility.”

Codie goes on to say, “I could quickly tell these are very specialised tools, and something you’d need to experiment with to find your perfect setup.”

Conveniently, Thumb Soldiers has a 30-day Risk Free Returns policy, so if you’re not satisfied with your order, you have 30 days to return the product for a full refund.

“Gaming should feel fun and inclusive, not tiring or frustrating because of physical barriers.”

“I DIDN’T REALISE HOW MUCH I WAS COMPENSATING”

Breaking down her experience, Codie described the types of hardware she tested and how it impacted not just her, but her partner’s gaming experience. “The biggest benefit was the Shroom thumbstick. I have hypermobility and extended joints, especially in my thumbs, and I didn’t realise how much I was compensating until I used it.”

“The added height from where it has to sit on top of the standard thumbsticks actually made things feel a lot more natural and comfortable. Meanwhile, my partner’s experience was quite different. The added height from the hardware caused strain in his wrists, and due to his FND (Functional Neurological Disorder), that strain very quickly led to fatigue. So, while it helped me, it didn’t work for him.”

A gaming controller with added attachments for improved accessibility, provided by Thumb Soldiers. Behind is a cute dog.

“DON’T BE AFRAID TO EXPERIMENT”

Trying out Thumb Soldiers led Codie to reflect on her gaming experience, realising she’d been overlooking a source of discomfort. “It made me realise that I had been experiencing strain while gaming, and had just normalised it.”

“Trying something different and finding a massive improvement in comfort has made me much more aware of what I actually need, and that was a really good feeling. It made me excited about what could work, rather than discouraged by what didn’t.”

“Realising that I didn’t have to just put up with discomfort, and that there are ways to improve it, made me feel a lot happier and more positive about gaming.”

When asked if Codie had any advice she’d give to others who might be curious about Thumb Soldiers to improve their comfort when gaming, she said, “Don’t be afraid to experiment! What works for one person might not work for another, and that’s completely okay.”

“Think about your specific needs, rather than guessing based on something saying it’s accessible. Read reviews, watch videos of the kits in action. It’s definitely a process of trial and error, but even small changes can make a big difference – so it’s worth exploring!”

Ladell adds, “Choose a controller you use the most at first and think about what might reduce the strain the most. Then think about what types of games you play, and how the accessories might best support playing those games. I selected attachments that I knew would help me in many of the games I play.”

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What We Learned at GDC Festival of Gaming 2026

Safe In Our World were back in San Francisco this year for GDC Festival of Gaming, and we wanted to share some of our key takeaways from talks at the event.

What’s holding us back?

Sarah and I kicked off the week with Cecile Hemery’s workshop From Reliable to Respected: Breaking free of the ‘good job trap.’

This workshop centred on the feeling that you’re doing everything right, but something still feels off. The feeling that doing a really good job isn’t enough anymore, identifying which “trap” you may have fallen into, and how to move forward.

It was a very well-attended session with some great insights from the other attendees, who were at all stages of their careers. We looked at the archetypes of Reliable, Impulsive, Overlooked and Respected, understanding the different dynamics that these types of people may form within a team, and how it impacts you on a personal level.

Something that stuck with me from this session was how the cycle of validation we experience from a very early age, often starting in school, can impact us well into adulthood and lead us to doing things for approval, rather than doing them for impact.

What’s it like to navigate the industry after reaching 50?

Later in the week, we attended Tülay McNally’s roundtable, Level 50 & Above: Navigating Games Careers Beyond Mid-Life. This was a great opportunity for individuals to come together and share their experiences, frustrations, and recommendations, as people over 50 in games. A huge number of topics were covered, but the ones that stood out the most to Sarah and me were:

Ageism in the Industry

People mentioned “hiding” their experience on their CV, due to fears that having job history going too far back would mean they were less likely to be selected for interviews. We also touched on experiences around an ‘assumption’ being made that if older professionals were not applying for management-level roles, they must be “uninspired” or “lacklustre” employees.

Grief and Dealing with Change

We touched on how many individuals in attendance felt grief at the loss of how making games used to be, and the importance of being able to keep up with a changing landscape. Many attendees highlighted different ways they had embraced change and learnt new skills to ensure their expertise stayed relevant.

This roundtable could have gone on for hours longer, but it was a great start to open up some vital conversations around mental health and wellbeing that can often go overlooked.

How can we ensure respect and accuracy when portraying other cultures in games?

And finally, we caught Kate Edwards’ talk on Building the Cultural World of Indiana Jones & The Great Circle. This was a fascinating look into how ‘culturalisation’ goes beyond localisation, and seeks to truly understand and respect the location and subject matter being portrayed in-game.

Kate highlighted how the world of Indiana Jones & The Great Circle had to strike a balance between the Real World (providing an authentic experience) and the Fantasy World (with an emphasis on imagination and uniqueness), and how in a world steeped in real-life geography and politics like Indiana Jones, the Fantasy World must not override the Real World.

The talk covered heaps of examples from symbols and writing to gestures and dance, and really seemed to inspire attendees to consider culturalisation more in their own work, which was wonderful to see.

Title: "A Fairer Industry with Rami Ismail" Pictures of Rosie Taylor and Rami Ismail against background of plane flying above a city landscape at sunset.

We covered ways we can achieve fairer games industry in a chat with Rami Ismail on an episode of our podcast, Safe Space: The Video Games Mental Health Podcast.
Listen now >

What can we do to recognise and mitigate signs of stress within ourselves?

This one might be cheating a little, but we hosted our own workshop at the end of the week on Understanding and Managing Stress. We wanted to share some of the awesome insights our attendees shared.

Firstly, we looked at identifying our personal stress signatures: really having a moment of introspection to think about the small – and not-so-small – signs that we’re struggling.

We noticed some common signs like irritability and fatigue, but also a wide range of sometimes contrasting symptoms. This demonstrates how differently stress can present from person to person.

We then moved onto discussing coping strategies for managing stress, and our participants once again highlighted some fantastic recommendations.

Creative outlets such as singing, listening to music, playing guitar, painting, or cooking.
Reach out to support systems: talking to friends, going for coffee, chatting to people online, or speaking to your partner.
Practice mindfulness through writing about your feelings, acknowledging your emotions, changing your physical environment by taking a shower, or practicing breathing.
Make time for exercise and movement by going to the gym, taking a walk in nature or even a walk around the house, or stretching.

There were loads of other suggestions, too, which proves that self-care doesn’t have to look a certain way. It’s up to you to determine how you want to decompress, while focusing on positive, helpful activities rather than unhelpful coping mechanisms.

—

There was heaps to learn at GDC this year, not to mention all the wonderful conversations we had with other attendees. We hope you found our recap helpful and we’re looking forward to sharing even more insights from future events!

If you would like to collaborate with us, just fill in our contact form or email us directly at hello@safeinourworld.com.

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World Parkinson’s Day

World Parkinson’s Day is celebrated on April 11th each year.

As the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the world, Parkinson’s disease (also called Parkinson disease) affects roughly 2-3% of adults over age 65 (Zafar et al., 2025). People with Parkinson’s experience challenges with motor function (i.e., muscle movements/coordination), cognition, and communication (e.g., quieter-sounding voice, less enunciated speech) (Mammen et al., 2025) that often make it difficult to participate in conversations and other daily activities (Duncan & Earhart, 2011).

Illustration of five adults seated in a circle on chairs in a group discussion setting. One person uses a wheelchair, and several people have speech bubbles above them, indicating conversation. The group is arranged in a bright room with simple decor, including shelves, a clock, and a potted plant, suggesting a supportive meeting or group session environment.

(Group Therapy Isometric Illustrations from Illustrations by Storyset, n.d.)

Combined with the neurological (i.e., brain-based) changes that happen, these challenges often contribute to depression and reduced well-being in people with Parkinson’s disease (Fresan et al., 2026) and their primary caregivers (Fresan et al., 2026; Henry et al., 2021).

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, meaning that symptoms tend to become more severe over time. While we’re still learning more about what exactly causes Parkinson’s disease, we know that symptoms happen due to a progressive loss of dopamine-producing cells in the brain over time (Zafar et al., 2025; Kouli et al., 2018).

With less dopamine available, we tend to see the hallmark symptoms of

tremor (i.e., shaking due to changes in brain-to-muscle messaging systems)
slowed movements (i.e., bradykinesia), and

stiffened muscle movements (i.e., rigidity; Zafar et al., 2025; Kouli et al., 2018).

(Image from Parkinson’s Care and Support UK, n.d.)

How does it impact mental health and well-being?

Research indicates that social isolation becomes increasingly more common as adults age. At the risk of offending some of our readers, we’ll gently note that “older adults” are generally defined as adults age 65 or older (National Institutes of Health, 2025).

Even in “healthy adults” (i.e., those who do not have a chronic or ongoing condition requiring medical care; Menassa et al., 2023), we typically see more loneliness and social isolation in older adults than in younger age groups (Ohiokpehai et al., 2025). When you add in motor (i.e., muscle movement), cognitive, and/or communication challenges (e.g., voice/speech changes), older adults with Parkinson’s disease can experience even more social isolation, which can further worsen depression and diminish well-being.

Using Games to Cultivate Social Connectedness

Games can be a valuable tool for building relationships and enhancing social connectedness, particularly among older adults (Alweis & Alweis, 2025; Ballard & Spencer, 2023). As our mission indicates, we at Safe in Our World maintain that intentional game design, development, and gameplay practices can create positive change by promoting and supporting mental health and well-being. Here are some suggestions to try:

For Players with Parkinson’s Disease and their Gameplay Partners (Friends, Family Members/Caregivers, etc.)

Since Parkinson’s disease can create motor, cognition, and communication challenges, consider these steps to create a more inclusive gameplay environment:

Take your time

People with Parkinson’s disease: Let yourself take the amount of time you need (e.g., opt for turns without time limits, take breaks as needed)
Gameplay partners: Give people the time they need to play the game, allowing for rests and breaks as needed.

Prioritize Clear Communication and Understanding

People with Parkinson’s disease:
- Supporting cognition: Ask for clarification of game instructions, game information, etc., as needed. Better yet, consider keeping a written copy of the rules/information you want to remember nearby as you play!
- Supporting communication: If you’re speaking during gameplay, consider asking your gameplay partners to let you know when they need you to say something louder/clearer, or when they need you to share your thoughts another way (e.g., via chat/writing).
Gameplay partners:
- Supporting cognition: Give people time to decide on their in-game turns and actions. Provide clarification on game instructions or information as needed, and consider keeping the rules/target information handy to help you!
- Supporting communication: Discuss communication strategies beforehand. If you need someone to repeat what they said to help you understand them, politely ask them to repeat themself (e.g., “I didn’t quite hear you there. Could you please say that again louder / clearer?”).

Create Supportive Environments for Gameplay

Optimize the environment by…

Reducing or limiting background noise (e.g., turning background music down or off during gameplay)
Adjusting lighting or brightness for greater visibility
Considering how the number of game players (e.g., 1-3 vs. 5+) may impact the gameplay experience
- For people with greater cognitive/communication challenges, smaller gameplay groups may reduce the stimuli they need to attend to (Thilakaratne et al., 2026), making it easier to focus on gameplay activities.

If you’d like to find out more about good practices in playing together, we teamed up with Ubisoft to create the Good Game Playbook, a resource designed to provide players with knowledge and support with regards to experiencing in-game toxicity.

For Game Designers/Developers

Ben-Sadoun and colleagues (2018) devised a set of serious game design considerations for people with neurodegenerative diseases (Ben-Sadoun et al., 2018). Consider these recommendations* to create more inclusive games and gameplay spaces for people with Parkinson’s disease:

Compatibility: Address Parkinson’s disease symptoms (speech, motor challenges, fatigue) in game design for older adults.
Guidance: Include clear instructions and built-in breaks to manage cognition/communication challenges and fatigue.
Workload: Minimize cognitive/physical strain by simplifying actions and communication tasks.
Adaptability: Ensure that your game can accommodate different communication approaches (e.g., voice amplification/personal microphones, Augmentative and Alternative Communication [AAC] devices or approaches) to support varying needs.
Consistency: Ensure uniformity in instructions, prompts, and feedback to avoid confusion.
Significance of Codes: Use intuitive, clear symbols and commands to enhance understanding.
Explicit Control: Ensure that your game/system can respond to the controls and inputs of people with Parkinson’s disease (e.g., tremor, quiet or less enunciated speech).
Error Management: Provide tools for navigating communication breakdowns (e.g., visual aids).
Game Rules: Tailor rules to focus on social engagement and manageable cognitive challenges.

* Recommendations are adapted from a presentation by Philippone (2024) at the 2024 Meaningful Play Conference (Pittsburgh, PA, USA). Framework is derived from Ben-Sadoun and colleagues, (2018).

Let Gameplay Be Playful

Games are opportunities to connect and experience community. Lean into that, and feel free to create gameplay experiences that center fun and connection!

Want to Learn More?

For more information, check out these resources:

Maura Philippone

A photo of Maura, a woman with long reddish brown hair, wearing a black top and light grey suit jacket, smiling.

Maura Philippone (she/her), M.A., CCC-SLP, is a PhD candidate in the Communicative Sciences and Disorders Department at Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI, USA). As a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist (SLP), her research investigates how SLPs can “level up” their voice/speech practices and pedagogy (e.g., via XR and game-based speech approaches) to enhance learning and treatment outcomes. Her recent work includes CLEARLY!, a serious game designed to help people with Parkinson’s disease strengthen their clear and loud speech skills through interactive gameplay with communication partners. The game, available on itch.io, won a bronze award at the 2024 Serious Play Conference.

References

Alweis, E., & Alweis, R. (2025). A Narrative Review of the Benefits of Board Games in Health. Cureus, 17(9), e92484. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.92484
Ballard, M. E., & Spencer, M. T. (2023). Importance of Social Videogaming for Connection with Others During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Games and culture, 18(2), 251–264. https://doi.org/10.1177/15554120221090982
Ben-Sadoun, G., Manera, V., Alvarez, J., Sacco, G., & Robert, P. (2018). Recommendations for the Design of Serious Games in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 10, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2018.00013
Duncan, R. P., & Earhart, G. M. (2011). Measuring participation in individuals with Parkinson disease: relationships with disease severity, quality of life, and mobility. Disability and rehabilitation, 33(15-16), 1440–1446. https://doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2010.533245
Fresan, A., Ochoa-Morales, A., Ramírez-García, M. Á., Chávez-Oliveros, M., Jara-Prado, A., Guerrero-Camacho, J. L., & Dávila-Ortiz de Montellano, D. J. (2026). Predictors of Quality of Life in Parkinson’s Disease: The Role of Mental Health and Internalized Stigma. Actas espanolas de psiquiatria, 54(1), 212–222. https://doi.org/10.62641/aep.v54i1.2130
Henry, R. S., Lageman, S. K., & Perrin, P. B. (2020). The relationship between Parkinson’s disease symptoms and caregiver quality of life. Rehabilitation psychology, 65(2), 137–144. https://doi.org/10.1037/rep0000313
Kouli, A., Torsney, K. M., & Kuan, W. L. (2018). Parkinson’s disease: Etiology, neuropathology, and pathogenesis. In T. B. Stoker & J. C. Greenland (Eds.), Parkinson’s disease: Pathogenesis and clinical aspects. Codon Publications. https://doi.org/10.15586/codonpublications.parkinsonsdisease.2018.ch1
Mammen, J. R., Adams, J. L., Mangrum, R., Xiao, Y., Barbosa, W., Tyo, M., Redmond, C., Carter, C., Cifelli, K., Cifelli, R., Maruzo, H., Meeker, J., Shultz, G., Thomas, C., Bale, C., Davies, E., Kopil, C. M., Marras, C., Mestre, T., Morel, T., … Stephenson, D. (2025). Systematic review and consensus conceptual model of meaningful symptoms and functional impacts in early Parkinson’s Disease. NPJ Parkinson’s disease, 11(1), 65. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-025-00907-2
Menassa, M., Stronks, K., Khatami, F., et al. (2023). Concepts and definitions of healthy ageing: A systematic review and synthesis of theoretical models. eClinicalMedicine, 56, 101810. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101821
National Institutes of Health. (2025, June 12). Age. https://www.nih.gov/nih-style-guide/age
Ohiokpehai, J., Gammack, J. K., Siddiqui, M., & Nyahoda, T. (2025). Loneliness and Social Isolation in Older Adults. Missouri medicine, 122(2), 118–123. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12021383/
Parkinson’s Care and Support UK. (n.d.). Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease [Infographic]. https://parkinsonscare.org.uk/symptoms-and-diagnosis/
Philippone, M. (2024, October 16-18). Tabletop game design considerations for voice and speech symptoms of Parkinson’s disease [Microtalk]. International Conference on Meaningful Play. Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Follow this link to access the slides: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lnrgLGi3O-j7CetlgxLkgnkOpQel9-1h/view?usp=sharing
Storyset. (n.d.). Group Therapy Isometric Illustrations [Illustration]. https://storyset.com/illustration/group-therapy/amico
Thilakaratne, R., Wylie, K., Loftus, A. M., & Cocks, N. (2026). Conversation Barriers and Strategies Used by People With Parkinson’s and Their Partners to Support Conversation. International journal of language & communication disorders, 61(2), e70202. https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.70202
Zafar, S., Lui, F., & Yaddanapudi, S. S. (2025). Parkinson disease. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470193/

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News

Safe In Our World is Hiring a Business Development & Fundraising Manager!

Applications are now closed for this vacancy.

We’re looking for a biz dev and fundraising professional to join our small team, focusing on shaping and delivering the Charity’s fundraising strategy.

Key Details

This new role will be responsible for ensuring sustainable growth and increased awareness of Safe In Our World’s mission and services, focusing on identifying opportunities for revenue generation, forming strategic partnerships, and nurturing existing relationships.

Hours per week: 37.5

Location: UK-based (Remote)

Salary: £35,000 – £45,000 per annum, depending on experience

Closing Date: 31 March 2026, 11:59pm GMT

The Role

We’re looking for someone with a good understanding of the games industry, and who is a wizard with client relationship building and management.

You will work closely with our Charity Director and Head of Programmes to implement a comprehensive business development strategy, seek out new partnerships, and deliver activations with key corporate partners.

You’ll think creatively, championing new approaches to fundraising, while staying organised by maintaining records of partner relationships in a CRM.

And ultimately, you’ll help Safe In Our World’s vital mission and key resources reach new audiences for years to come.

Read the full Job Description here!

The Ideal Candidate

Our ideal candidate will have the ability to secure and manage corporate partnerships and sponsorships (though your experience doesn’t have to be in a charity capacity!)

You’ll be flexible, organised and proactive, with strong communication skills. The role will also require occasional travel to national and international events, conferences, and partner meetings, so you’ll ideally be comfortable with travelling.

How to Apply

If this role sounds like a good fit, we’d love to hear from you. Read the full job description and apply with a Cover Letter and CV via our form.

You’ll hear back regardless of the outcome by no later than 10 April 2026. If successful, you will be invited to interview during the week commencing 13 April 2026. There is an option to include any accessibility needs in the application form, but you’ll have the opportunity to ask for accommodations before your interview, too.

Our interview process will include three stages:

An initial phone screening where we’ll provide some more information about Safe In Our World, answer any questions you have, and get to know you a little bit more.
A first interview with our Charity Director and Head of Programmes, where we’ll ask questions about your skills and experience in relation to the role.
A second interview with our Charity Director and one of our Trustees, which will involve a brief presentation task.

Safe In Our World is an equal opportunities employer. We encourage applications from anyone and do not discriminate based on age, sexual orientation, gender, pregnancy, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, medical history, marital status, parental status, or any other characteristic. We ensure our selection process is fair and merit-based, and provide equal opportunities relating to training, promotion, and remuneration.

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News

Safe In Our World and Fanatical raise $263,582 in annual mental health charity bundle

The Safe In Our World Charity Bundle 2026 was the mental health charity’s most successful bundle yet, raising over $260,000 in just 9 days.

On Friday 6th February 2026, Safe In Our World launched their annual charity bundle, with 22 great games worth over $340 – featuring Landfall Games’ ‘PEAK’ and Oro Interactive’s ‘Easy Delivery Co.’ – 9 days later it was sold out, and had raised a whopping $263,582!

The Safe In Our World Charity Bundle 2026, powered by Fanatical, featuring screenshots and artwork from games included in the Safe In Our World charity bundle.

Thank you to our friends and partners

We’d like to take this opportunity to celebrate and thank everyone who contributed to our annual charity bundle this year, from the talented developers and publishers who donated keys, to the fantastic team at Fanatical who host our bundle every year. We’d also like to thank our ambassadors, patrons and charity friends who helped amplify the bundle in their networks and communities.

Our charity bundle featured 22 fantastic games from 22 studios, including Oro Interactive, Worm Club, Perfuse Entertainment, Future Friends, Snowcastle Games, Outright Games, Amplified Games, Slitherine, Cointinue Games, Doot Tiny Games, Bunstack, Landfall, Headup Games, Monster Couch, Merge Conflict Studio, Waving Bear Studio, Wired Productions, Lightshards, Top Hat Studios, Noodlecake, and Abiding Bridge.

Your support goes a long way

We have the honor of supporting the games industry and wider gaming community with mental health tools, training and resources – and that’s made possible through initiatives like our annual bundle.

The funds raised through our charity bundle allow us to continue providing support to games companies of all sizes; independent developers, industry professionals, creators, aspiring game devs, and gamers.

With your support, we’ve launched our Mental Health Star Accreditation, to promote workplace wellbeing across the games industry. We’ve continued to develop our Level Up programme, supporting over 70,000 employees across hundreds of companies. We’ve signposted over half a million people to life-saving resources through the Safe In Our World website.

And we’re committed to continuing this work, to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and start important conversations around mental health in games.

How to get involved

We’d encourage studios (of any size) to consider joining Level Up, and benefit from a wealth of resources to improve your mental health policies and practices in the workplace. You can also take on the Mental Health Star Accreditation, to identify ways you can improve your mental health policies, and celebrate your wins!

To hear the latest charity news, get involved in discussions or new initiatives, or find out when our Ambassador applications open again later this year, we’d encourage you to join our Discord. And you can always email us for any other fundraising initiative that comes to mind!

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News

Announcing the Safe In Our World Charity Bundle 2026 supporting mental health in games

Safe In Our World’s Charity Bundle 2026 is HERE – supporting the charity’s vital work to improve mental health across the games industry and global gaming community. 🚀

Has it really been a year? 🥹 It feels like only yesterday our charity bundle raised a whopping $200,000 in just six short hours! But yes, it’s that time again… And we’re back with the Safe In Our World Charity Bundle 2026, jam-packed full of fantastic titles. Grab 22 games on Steam, including Landfall Games’ ‘PEAK’ and Oro Interactive’s ‘Easy Delivery Co.’

Our charity bundle is worth over $340 and is available to purchase now on Fanatical for £17.99 / $17.99 / €17.99, with the option to donate more to support mental health in games.

Safe In Our World Charity Bundle 2026 key art, with images from four different games featured in the bundle, including Minami Lane and PEAK.

Funding positive change to mental health in games

All proceeds from our annual charity bundle directly support Safe In Our World’s mission to reduce mental health stigma, increase awareness, and facilitate positive change in our industry and the wider global games community. The funds help us deliver:

Free toolkits and downloadable resources for the games industry
Vital training and workshops to increase mental health awareness
Signposting to life-saving helplines and sharing lived experiences to build empathy
New initiatives to meet the ever-changing needs of the games industry and gaming communities

We’ve delivered tools, training, and mental health resources to over 300 companies since Safe In Our World began in 2019. That’s over 70,000 employees (and growing)! Our website has been a hub of mental health support and stories, providing insights and signposting to over half a million gamers worldwide.

“We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved over the past few years. We wouldn’t be where we are today without our wonderful community – from the talented people who donate games to the bundle to those who purchase it. We knew we wanted to bring our supporters another fantastic line-up of games this year, so we’re thrilled to be launching such an exciting and diverse bundle of games.” – Sarah Sorrell, Charity Director

Unpacking the Safe In Our World Charity Bundle 2026

Let’s dive into what this year’s charity bundle has to offer! There’s something for everyone, with a great mix of award-winning titles and true gems from both our incredible indie studios, through to our talented AA developers!

‘Easy Delivery Co.’ from Oro Interactive
‘Frog Detective 1: The Haunted Island’ from Worm Club
‘Golf It!’ from Perfuse Entertainment
‘Gourdlets’ from Future Friends
‘Ikonei Island’ from Snowcastle Games
‘Jumanji: The Videogame’ from Outright Games
‘Little Problems: A Cozy Detective Game’ from Amplified Games
‘Master of Magic’ from Slitherine
‘Midnight Ramen’ from Cointinue Games
‘Minami Lane’ from Doot Tiny Games
‘Paquerette Down the Bunburrows’ from Bunstack
‘PEAK’ from Landfall
‘Pumpkin Jack’ from Headup Games
‘Quilts & Cats of Calico’ from Monster Couch
‘Re:Fresh’ from Merge Conflict Studio
‘STUFFED’ from Waving Bear Studio
‘The Falconeer’ from Wired Productions
‘Time Rift’ from Lightshards
‘Tin Hearts’ from Wired Productions
‘Tiny Life’ from Top Hat Studios, Inc
‘Winter Burrow’ from Noodlecake
‘Wordatro!’ from Abiding Bridge

Every game in our Charity Bundle 2026 has been kindly donated by game developers and publishers. We’d like to thank them for their generous donations, as this really makes a world of difference to Safe In Our World. It allows us to maintain our mission to make the games industry safer for everyone – and we thank you for being part of that! 💚

The Safe In Our World 2026 Charity Bundle is powered by Fanatical. Any and all proceeds from the charity bundle will be donated to Safe In Our World.

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How you can support games industry Community Managers (+ FREE training and resources)

To recognise Community Manager Appreciation Day, Safe In Our World unpack how employers and players can give back to the guardians of the games industry.

🔗 Download FREE Mental Health Guide for Community Managers
🔗 Book Now for Mental Health Awareness for Community Managers

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. For Community Manager Appreciation Day, we’ve explored the ways communities, employers and colleagues can support our 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.

One great way to help us CMs is by listening to and respecting our moderators. They provide invaluable support, allowing us to take the time we need to recover. We’ve chosen them because we trust their judgement, so please trust them to look after you and keep the community safe.

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 office
Discuss a plan for cover when your Community Manager goes on holiday (so they can fully switch off)
Send your CM on our free Mental Health Awareness for Community Managers course
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.

CMs shield dev teams from the worst of the toxicity in games communities, but we bear the brunt of it in doing so. We’ll have likely already softened feedback, so please take it in good faith. We’re bringing it to your attention because we believe it’s important – it’s not an attack.

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)
Consider joining our free Mental Health Awareness for Community Managers course (even if you’re not a CM yourself)

💡 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.

Unfortunately there are always some people in communities who are looking for a fight. Don’t give them one. It’s so tempting, and you might think you’re helping us out, but it only makes the situation worse, and it can harm your wellbeing and that of the community.

Training and Resources for Community Managers

We have refreshed our Mental Health Guide for Community Managers, which highlights actions you can take as a CM to maintain your wellbeing in your role, achieve work-life balance, and set effective boundaries. You can download this for free.

We’re also announcing four new Mental Health Awareness for Community Managers courses in collaboration with Mind Fitness. If you’ve done this course before, consider recommending it to your community moderators – it’s free and open to all! Share it with a fellow community manager or your team. Pop it in your community Discord server! See you there.

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News

It’s time we closed the Pandora’s Box that is Blue Monday (the so-called most depressing day of the year)

Twenty years later, and Blue Monday is still seen as the most depressing day of the year – but does that do us any good? Spoiler alert, no.

Once a story is out, it’s difficult to change the narrative. Many people won’t read past a sensational headline or investigate the legitimacy of a social media post.

We hear Blue Monday, and we agree! January can be rough, money can be tight, and the weather sucks. The festivities are over. We’re back at work, and honestly, I’m not entirely sure what day it is.

But there’s power in a self-fulfilling prophecy. Our beliefs can influence our actions, which in turn impact events, which can then reinforce our beliefs. And around we go!

If you look for the negative, you will inevitably find it – because life is composed of moments, whether good, bad, or simply mundane. Blue Monday is no different, but if all you’re looking for is blue, you’ll miss the rainbow.

Blue Monday: Fact or Fiction?

Let’s play truth or travel advertising! Is Blue Monday based in science, or was it a marketing ploy by Sky Travel to sell holidays?

Two decades ago, Sky Travel sought the help of psychologist Dr Cliff Arnall, whom they tasked to create a formula for the January Blues. It factored in variables like weather and sunlight, financial debt, time since Christmas, motivational levels, and failed New Year’s resolutions.

Those variables can have an impact on how we’re feeling. Still, the formula lacks any scientific backing, and even Dr Arnall has since distanced himself from the term, saying it was never his intention to make the day sound negative.

“I was originally asked to come up with what I understood to be the best day to book a summer trip, but when I started thinking about what motivates people to book a vacation, and remembering what thousands of people had told me about stress management, there were factors that pointed to the third Monday in January as being particularly depressing… But putting that out into the world wasn’t very helpful. Claiming it’s the most depressing day of the year is almost self-fulfilling.” – Dr Cliff Arnall

Great marketing, terrible advice

Misinformation is a Pandora’s box. Once Blue Monday was set loose on the world, there was no stopping it, because it’s relatable! Many people feel less jolly in January, and some really struggle.

But the idea of there being a single “most depressing day of the year” trivialises the experience of depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and other mental health challenges. We can’t reduce the experience of depression to one Monday that may or may not be miserable.

Our Rainbow Monday Challenge

We’ve nothing against the colour blue, but let’s make space for the others. This so-called “Blue Monday” lands on January 19th, 2026 – and we have a challenge for you. Let’s switch up the colours!

We’ve six suggestions to turn your Blue Monday into a spectrum of colour and joy. Brighten your day, or someone else’s, and help us do away with this harmful narrative for good.

Move for your mental health! A brisk walk, some stretching, pilates, or a spin class – however you choose to exercise, you’ll be releasing feel-good endorphins.
Enjoy one of your favourite snacks or a meal. Food can impact our mood, so treat yourself to a snack from your childhood, try a home-cooked recipe, or a nourishing treat to give you energy.
Stand in the yellow warmth of the sun, light a candle, or cosy up by a fire. Let that warmth spread through you in a moment of mindfulness.
Send someone a kind message, wishing them well, complimenting them, or letting them know you’re there to talk.
Stay hydrated. Water is essential to keeping your body healthy, and dehydration can cause brain fog, poor memory, mood swings, and even anxiety.
Make time for a hobby, be it crafty, outdoorsy, or playing a video game (we’ve lots of indie games you can try from 2025’s Game Dev Champions finalists).

Let us know how you get on. You can join our community Discord server, Safer Together, and join the discussion around mental health and video games.

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Self-care VS Sabotage: Protecting your mental health during the holidays

Is Christmas stressing you out? If you’re not feeling festive, you’re not alone. While some make merry, others struggle with their mental health.

‘Tis the season of feeling entirely overwhelmed and stressed out. Or at least, that’s the experience of many people during the festive period.

One in three people surveyed reported they struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder during the winter*
31% of people reported that they struggle with sleepless nights attributed to worrying about the festive period*
1 in 5 people surveyed reported that they will feel more irritable (and even struggle with headaches) around this time of year*

*Source: Mental Health UK

What turns festivities into frustrations?

The reasons behind finding this time of year so challenging can vary from person to person. It might be that you’re worried about your financial situation – something very relevant to many struggling with job insecurity in the games industry right now. Christmas is expensive, and having to stick to a tight budget might make you feel like you’re missing out!

Some people struggle with the changes to their routine. This can be especially true for neurodivergent folk – and that’s a lot of people in the games industry! When the structure of your day disappears, you might feel a little lost (not to mention potentially being inundated with relatives or social events, throwing your schedule into chaos).

Loneliness is another big factor in poor mental health during the holidays. Surrounded by festive sentiments of love, connection, and family, it’s understandable to feel lonely if:

You live by yourself
You’ve lost a loved one
You’re going through a separation
You’re estranged from your family
You don’t currently have a support network

1 in 4 adults feel lonely during the Christmas period and 28% of adults have no one to spend Christmas with.

Source: Loneliness at Christmas

The pressure of participation

It can feel like you’re letting people down if you’re not feeling all that festive, but the truth is, you should never be pressured into celebrating. It’s wild that we’ve even got to say that – doesn’t it just sound so bizarre? Being forced to have fun?

And what is fun, anyway? It seems like a pretty subjective concept to us. If your idea of a Christmas Eve well spent is one with a warm drink, some of your favourite snacks, and a quiet, cosy gaming session, then party hats off to you!

If you want to spend Christmas Day walking through a cold, crispy forest, wearing your best woolly hat and throwing a ball for your dog, we support you fully. Getting out into nature can be amazingly beneficial for your mental health.

Notepaper with text reading "Christmas Day To-do List", and a bullet point list containing "go for a walk, coffee and pastries, journaling for an hour, watch christmas movie, christmas dinner, facetime with friends, mulled ribena, picky bits, "love actually" under a blanket, stretch before bed." Note paper also contains festive doodles.

Don’t sabotage your wellbeing this season

However you choose to spend your time during the holidays is up to you. But make sure you’re mindful of two things:

Look past the feelings you currently have on the surface, to understand what you want (and need) to get out of this festive period.
Be careful not to further isolate yourself if what you need right now is connection.

Unfortunately, our emotions can be complex and confusing. We might feel miserable and thoroughly un-festive on the surface, but be craving connection underneath.

We might decline an invitation not because we’re feeling too tired, but because we’re worried about the “vibes” we’re bringing to the party. It’s just too easy to further isolate ourselves by letting those negative thoughts get in the way of opportunities.

If you’re confident that what you need is a quiet holiday period with games and snacks, then go for it. Just be sure to check in with yourself and the motivations behind the decisions you’re making.

Mental health resources for the holidays

Returning to that list of reasons you might feel lonely or sad this festive season, we’d like to point you in the direction of some mental health resources that might help.

If you’re struggling with a bereavement, you might benefit from our grief awareness series, written by charity ambassador Bethany Rainbird. It explores the benefits of video games during periods of grief and recommends a number of games that you could try during the holidays.

If you’re looking for ways to practice self-care during the holidays, check out our recent infographic for a side-quest to help boost your emotional wellbeing and set healthy boundaries during the festive season.

If you’re worried about your finances and you have access to an Employee Assistance Program, you may be able to access financial advice for free. People on the EAP provided through Safe In Our World (e.g. Level Up partners) can access one-to-one financial coaching with MUNNY.

If you’re struggling to switch off and find yourself endlessly scrolling through upsetting content, you might benefit from our article for protecting your mental health online. This can also help you support others impacted by the negative effects of doom-scrolling.

If you’re seeing a friend or relative this festive season who’s gone through a change (e.g. is using different pronouns, or a new name) and you’d like to build empathy and understanding around the importance of social identity, you can read our article exploring intersectionality and mental health.

And if you (or someone you know) needs support with their mental health during the festive period, please look to our Find Help page, to search for mental health services in your local area.

Safe In Our World will be back in 2026

Allow us to take this opportunity to thank you all for the enthusiasm and endless support you’ve given to our mental health charity over the last year. You can read a recap of what we’ve been up to in our birthday blog.

Our team is about to take a much-needed break! Our last work day of this year is Monday, 22nd December, and we’ll be returning to work in the new year on Monday, 5th January. We wish you all a safe, restful and relaxing break. Thank you!

An illustration of five astronauts representing the Safe In Our World team, featuring Izzie, Em, Sarah, Sky and Tash. They are all floating above a red planet, with a space background of planets and stars. A rocket flies over their heads. The Safe In Our World logo is in the top right, and a message in the bottom right reads "Stay safe! Love, Safe In Our World".

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Safe In Our World Announces New Ambassador Class of 2026

Safe In Our World is thrilled to announce our newest cohort of mental health ambassadors in our Class of 2026.

With 80 impressive applications this year, selecting Safe In Our World’s Ambassador Class of 2026 was a real challenge. We’ve seen such passion and creativity in every submission, and we’d like to thank everyone who applied for caring so deeply about improving mental health in games. But the final decision has been made, and our new ambassadors are locked in.

What do our newest ambassadors bring to the Safe In Our World mission – other than their boundless enthusiasm? We’re excited for this year’s cohort, which represents the diversity of backgrounds and experiences within our community. We’ve been joined by individuals with direct experience supporting loved ones with their mental health, educators, writers, healthcare providers, grief specialists, creators, and games industry professionals.

2026 is fast approaching, but with our new ambassadors by our side (and our ambassador alumni having our back), we’re excited for it to arrive. 2026 will bring with it fresh content, mental health initiatives, resources for the industry and global gaming communities.

Safe In Our World’s Ambassador Programme is sponsored by The Indie Stone this year, and by doing so, they power an initiative that connects mental health advocates on a global scale, allowing our charity to reach further and bring mental health resources and signposting to more people in need.

Alexander Mellström

[He/Him]

Alexander has worked in the video game industry for 7 years and is currently serving as Partner Account Manager at Paradox Interactive. With experience in digital distribution and partner relations, he’s passionate about fostering inclusive, respectful environments where everyone feels seen, heard, and supported both professionally and personally.

Alexander is super energetic and loves talking about, well, anything! Mostly, he enjoys talking about football, video games, Demon Slayer and Star Wars – or whatever has piqued his interest that week.

JadedPhoenix (Amber)

[She/Her]

Amber (JP) is a coordinator, creator, and entrepreneur whose work spans higher education, gaming, and community building. She fell into the world of gaming a year ago after being inspired to change careers and enter the creative industry. Since then she has worked on her own content creations, an indie studio and supports the Liverpool Game Development Network.

At the heart of everything Amber does is a passion for supporting and uplifting others, as well as working with creatives who are ready to make a difference!

Annabelle Afful

[She/Her]

Annabelle is a games developer and designer who founded Lost Wanderer Games, creating a rhythm narrative game. She’s interested in how games bring people together through shared experiences and enjoys supporting emerging developers and creative communities within the games industry.

Bethany Rainbird

[She/Her]

Beth is a game developer and one of the writers at Patch Magazine! She is passionate about how games can be used to support our mental health, particularly through loss and bereavement. While she admits to talking a lot about death, she promises that she’s still fun at parties!

Beth has already been hard at work, developing a content series for Safe In Our World exploring grief and video games.

Caitlin Doleman

[She/They]

Caitlin has been a solo indie developer for a year, and wants to have as positive an impact on the industry as possible. She has been working on publishing her first game while creating a community on social media to showcase what it’s like to work solo and help create a support network for new indie devs.

Codie Sheldon

[She/Her]

Codie is a Player Support specialist and Community Manager in passionate about creating welcoming, safe spaces for players of all ages. With years of experience in large online communities, she focuses on empathy, accessibility, and positive player experiences.

Outside work, Codie loves gaming, thrifting and nurturing cosy online spaces.

Conway Sutton

[He/Him]

Conway Sutton is a freelance indie games writer and narrative designer living in Guildford, UK, with a particular interest in telling queer and disabled stories. He strongly believes in the importance of intersectionality and supporting everyone’s mental health in the way that works best for them.

Dasha Barsky

[She/Her]

Dasha is a QA Analyst in a small studio, having taken a leap of faith 2 years ago to leave her data analytics career and pursue a life in games development. She is passionate about video games (obviously!), inclusivity, being nice to people, collecting niche hobbies like a dragon with a hoard, and her two cats.

Mod Q

[He/Him]

Mod Q is a video and livestream producer at Jagex, helping bring life to announcements across Old School RuneScape, RuneScape 3, and Dragonwilds to players. As a proud dad of two, he’s driven by a deep belief that gaming should be an inclusive and welcoming space where his children, as well as players of all backgrounds can feel safe, supported, and able to belong.

Outside of Jagex, Mod Q is a lover of great stories, whether playing adventure-driven games on Nintendo consoles, watching Critical Role while learning to play Daggerheart, or diving into the magic of Disney and Star Wars.

He also loves stepping into storytelling himself, taking the occasional side quest into managing wrestling villains on the UK indie wrestling scene. He has a deep affection for New Orleans culture and cooking, as well as a love for the sounds of jazz and soul. And if that wasn’t enough, he’s a regular at the cinema, a dedicated concert-goer, a keen LEGO builder, and a guitarist at heart.

George Coates

[He/Him]

With time spent at several studios (currently at Team17 and everplay), charities, schools, and theatres; George has experience with the arts, education, and vulnerable people across the UK. He has spent a huge amount of time and effort dedicated towards learning about and bettering mental health in himself and others.

Havva Solhan

[She/Her]

Havva Solhan is the Co-Founder of Nonereal Games and has been working in the game industry for 5+ years, focusing on both mobile and PC game development. The games she has contributed to have reached millions of downloads. Currently working on a PC title called Problem Solved under the Nonereal Games label.

In addition to game development and publishing processes, she also leads projects on “Education in the Game Industry” and “The Role of Women in the Gaming Industry,” aiming to build more inclusive and informed communities within the industry.

Havva actively advocates for mental well-being, accessibility, and safe creative spaces in game communities – values that align strongly with Safe In Our World’s mission! Her ongoing efforts to support diverse, healthy, and supportive environments make her a strong fit as an ambassador.

Jarvs Tasker

[She/Her]

Jarvs Tasker is an award-winning Accessibility Advocate and Head of Communications at Happy Volcano, creators of the upcoming factory builder game, Modulus. With experience across community marketing, accessibility consulting, and content creation, she has worked on acclaimed indie titles and champions inclusive game communities through industry-wide accessibility initiatives.

Jodie Swepson

[She/Her]

Jodie is a digital artist living in Lincolnshire. Jodie recently received First Class Honours in BA (Hons) Fine Art from the University of Lincoln and is at the start of her career in games.

Through Safe In Our World, Jodie hopes to support fellow graduates with their mental health, knowing from personal experience how turbulent graduate life can be.

Jordan “AmazinglyOreos” Stephens

[He/Him]

Jordan is an experienced Social Media and Community Manager who started as a Sales Assistant at GAME, building his way up to work with major brands like Red Bull and Riot Games. Currently at Get In as a Social Media Manager, he supports diverse clients and studios in the games industry.

Jordan is a passionate AuDHD and neurodivergent advocate, championing truly safe and inclusive online spaces. You’ll often see him with his cat, Sebastian. Be warned though, he may ask you to dab in a photo with him for socials.

Katie Squires

[She/Her]

Katie is the Business Manager at South Westerly Games. They are a micro indie studio based on the south coast of England developing and producing their first game, NINE ROUNDS RAPID. It’s her first job in the games industry, having recently moved from a 20+ year career in the education sector.

Katie held various roles over this time, with a particular interest in the pastoral care and wellbeing of the children in her care. Coupled with this pastoral experience, she has very personal reasons for knowing that talking about, raising the profile of and reducing stigma surrounding mental health is of the utmost importance. Katie is delighted to be given an opportunity to help do so in relation to the games industry. She’s happiest when she is either in her garden or swimming in the sea – the colder the better!

Eri Cheng

[She/Her]

Eri is an Account Executive at Bastion, working on the Riot, FFXIV and WotC accounts. Her favourite game is Outer Wilds. She loves connecting with people, and wants to foster that attitude in the gaming industry and encourage the building of stronger relationships regardless of backgrounds. She also has a British Longhair called Lemony!

Paul Rennie (Ren)

[He/Him]

Ren is a gamer by day, and by night? A gamer with funky neon lighting! He has over 16 years of experience in and around the video game industry – from QA to community management! He’s a content creator, and hosts a semi-regular live podcast on video game news and mental health topics.

Outside of games, Ren enjoys the usual nerdy things, as well as yoga, hiking, coffee, and is a reliable source of bad jokes.

Roshelle P.

[She/Her]

Roshelle P. is a Games UX Researcher, writer, and Death Doula with 4 years of AAA and indie experience, including shipped work on the World of Warcraft franchise at Blizzard. She holds an M.A. in UX Design and is the founder of Playfully Mortal, a 2x award-winning initiative focused on advancing grief literacy and death positivity through games.

Sally Sheppard

[She/Her]

Sally is a game developer, educator, and researcher focused on inclusive game design and storytelling. A Lecturer in Game Design, Art, and Animation at the University of West London, she is also the founder of Wyrdren Games and an advocate for diversity and representation in the games industry.

selcouthmind

[She/Her]

Sel is a Canadian V-tuber and speed-runner with a focus on indie games and cosy chaos. With an educational background in psychology and lived experience with trauma disorders, Sel loves to discuss mental health, stigma, and psychological assessment especially in the context of games and media.

Susmita Aryal

[She/Her]

Susmita Aryal is a Kathmandu-based published author and an independent journalist. As a graduate in journalism, she brings years of writing and publishing experience. Susmita has a genuine love for storytelling, and is a person in progress as a communication professional. With a curiosity about International Affairs, she is currently pursuing her interest in International Relations and Diplomacy.

Sybil Collas

[They/Them]

Sybil Collas is a creative director, narrative designer and published author. They work with clients ranging from video game developers to interactive television and tourism companies (Ubisoft, Warner Bros., Canal+, We Are Social and more) and have navigated the ever-changing landscape of interactive narration for the past 15 years.

In this lapse of time, Sybil has sailed through several burnouts and started operating as a DEI consultant and advisor with a focus on fostering mental health awareness among both teams and projects, especially for queer and neurodivergent developers. They are one of the founders of the French collective Radi (Radical Collective for the Actors of Diversity and Inclusion) and a fervent advocate of political action through community making.

Thomas Müller

[He/Him]

Thomas ‘SpeedyBrain’ Müller is an indie game developer, community manager and co-founder of Fire Sword Studios with over a decade of experience. He purr-sues community-driven development and advocates for mental health and accessibility in games. Thomas is a proud cat dad, shameless pun enjoyer and can always be found on Discord.

Spencer Stachi

[He/Him]

Spencer is a Montréal-based Brazilian-born Canadian. He’s a former video game journalist turned PR, marketing and social media pro, working with brands like Sony Music, Atari, Focus Entertainment, and WB Games. Spencer is a board member for AbleGamers Brasil and a Certified APX Practitioner, and is passionate about making games accessible for everyone.

Tara Williams

[She/Her]

Tara is a non-profit professional who advocates for cancer patients and survivors. Video games brought levity to her own cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. She tries to balance a love of the outdoors with a love for indoor pursuits and lives in the United States with her husband and their retro video game collection.

Aiden Sealey

[He/Him]

Aiden Sealey is an Assistant Producer at Electronic Arts with a background in indie production and studio operations. As a neurodivergent, transgender man, he’s passionate about inclusive, wellbeing-focused game-dev cultures. Outside of work, Aiden freelances as a graphic, web and UI/UX designer, drinks too much caffeine, and spends his free time playing games.

Elise

[She/Her]

Elise is a people-focused, detail-loving producer who thrives where creativity meets structure. From Zynga Mobile and Cloud Imperium Games to her own indie studio, she’s led teams, shipped features and worn many hats. Mental health matters deeply to Elise, inspiring her support for Safe In Our World and inclusive gaming spaces.

Ricardo Lozano Ham

[He/Him]

Ricardo has over 10 years of marketing experience and is currently the Head of Operations at Infernozilla, a marketing agency in the gaming space.

He is deeply passionate about working with indie games and helping them succeed. He is looking to raise mental health awareness across the hundreds of gaming communities he is responsible for and to be the helping hand he once wished he had. Outside of his professional work, he is dedicated to animal welfare, serving as a volunteer godfather for multiple shelters.

Nat (MurderVeggie)

[She/They]

As Community Manager by trade and content creator for fun, Nat (@MurderVeggie) has a penchant for creating welcoming and safer spaces for gamers that fit more than one type of person. Despite recent online harassment as a direct consequence of her job, they continue to speak publicly and refuse to leave the industry out of equal amounts of passion and spite.

Thank you to all our new ambassadors for their passionate applications, and to everyone who applied. We’re so excited for our Class of 2026! Remember, applications open every year in October, so if you want to apply (or reapply if you weren’t selected this time), add a reminder to your diary, follow us on social media, or join our Discord to hear when we’re looking for a new cohort.

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Ubisoft and Safe In Our World team up to deliver new Good Game Playbooks for kids, teens, and parents

Safe In Our World and Ubisoft have united again to deliver three Good Game Playbooks for kids, teens, and parents – challenging toxicity in video games.

Safe In Our World and Ubisoft co-developed the very first Good Game Playbook back in 2023, designed to provide players with the tools to navigate and help reduce in-game toxicity. Now, two years later, we’re back to collaborate on a brand new set of tools – this time for the whole family!

Laptop screen showing a preview of the Good Game Playbook for Kids, brought to you by Ubisoft and Safe In Our World.

The History of the Good Game Playbook

When Ubisoft and Safe In Our World came together back in 2023, the goal was simple: create a tool to help players experiencing online toxicity. That included those perpetrating unhealthy behaviours, as well as those on the receiving end of in-game negativity.

The original Good Game Playbook gave players the tools to recognise warning signs, cope with anger and negativity, and practice self-care. Over the last two years, it’s been delivered to any Ubisoft player reporting others for toxicity, as well as to players who are reported.

Expanding the Good Game Playbook

Ubisoft and Safe In Our World got together again this year to explore a new series of Good Game Playbooks. We recognised the need to adapt to the different ages of young gamers and provide parents with the tools to support their children engaging safely with online games.

“Expanding the Good Game Playbook to parents, teens, and kids marks a new step in our mission to make online gaming a safer and more positive space for everyone. By empowering families with the right tools and insights, and through our continued partnership with Safe In Our World, we want to help the next generation of players build empathy, respect, and healthier gaming habits,” – Jérémy Marchadier, Player Safety Director at Ubisoft

A playbook in three parts

So, what does this look like? Well, players and parents can now download three Good Game Playbooks: for kids, teens, and parents. Each has been adapted to consider the kinds of challenges faced by that age group.

While all the toolkits focus on the same core objective (helping gamers be positive online community members), each playbook approaches this in a way that resonates with the audience it’s intended for.

The Good Game Playbook for Kids caters to a 5th grade reading age and focuses on how to stay safe online and understand appropriate and inappropriate behaviour in online gaming.
The Good Game Playbook for Teens supports an 8th grade reading age, and helps young people make informed, safe decisions about what games they play, how, and with whom. It also supports teens in identifying signs of tilt, and gives guidance on how to remain a positive member of their online communities.
The Parents’ Guide is designed to support parents and guardians in understanding the risks and nuances of online gaming and communication, so that they can facilitate open and productive conversations with their children.

“It’s part of Safe In Our World’s mission to support gamers and ensure they can play the games they love while maintaining their wellbeing: addressing this with children and young people is crucial for building skills that will see them well into adulthood.” – Sky Tunley-Stainton, Partnerships & Training Manager at Safe In Our World

The Good Game Playbooks are available in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and German, and you can download them for free from the Ubisoft website.

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Which would you choose in a mental health crisis? ChatGPT or human connection?

If you were experiencing mania, psychosis, or suicidal thoughts, would you turn to an AI chatbot, or would you seek support from a friend?

Content Warning: This article mentions suicidal thoughts and one case of suicide in a young person.

You might think the answer is simple – talk to a friend! Or, you might be wondering whether chatbots could actually help people in crisis reach out. Either way, we’ve seen a rise in people turning to AI tools for mental health support.

OpenAI has announced that 0.07% of users in a given week have shown possible signs of mental health emergencies related to psychosis or mania. On the surface, that might not sound like a lot – but OpenAI claims to have 800 million weekly users.

That leaves us with 560,000 weekly users engaging with ChatGPT while seemingly showing signs of experiencing a mental health crisis.

Are AI therapy chatbots safe?

ChatGPT hasn’t been designed to support people experiencing mental health problems. It’s described by OpenAI as an “AI chatbot for everyday use”, with the ability to answer questions, summarise information, and so on. But there are AI therapy chatbots, designed specifically to provide mental health support.

These AI therapy chatbots tend to sell themselves on the promise of providing a supportive, non-judgmental space. It might feel like a good option to those struggling to access therapy due to long wait times, expensive fees, or having to travel to appointments.

But a Stanford study from this year revealed that AI therapy chatbots may not only lack effectiveness compared to human therapists, but could also contribute to harmful stigma and provide dangerous responses.

“Therapy is not only about solving clinical problems, but also about solving problems with other people and building human relationships. If we have a [therapeutic] relationship with AI systems, it’s not clear to me that we’re moving toward the same end goal of mending human relationships.” – Jared Moore (Leading Author of Stanford Study: Exploring the Dangers of AI in Mental Health Care)

The limitations of AI in mental health care

An article from the National Centre for Biotechnology Information explored whether AI can replace psychotherapists, and envisioned a future where AI could offer scalable, cost-effective solutions that reduce barriers to mental health care – such as affordability, stigma, and logistical challenges.

But they also recognised the dangers of the limitations as AI becomes more integrated into mental health care, including algorithmic bias, a lack of genuine empathy, and the ability to interpret non-verbal cues – qualities that are intrinsic to human therapists.

Devastating consequences for vulnerable people

We’re already seeing the dangers of using chatbots for mental health support. This year, a 16-year-old boy from California died by suicide. The parents of Adam Raine are suing OpenAI for wrongful death, stating the AI programme’s design “foster[s] psychological dependency in users”.

Adam spent months confiding in the chatbot, discussing his interests, his future, and his experience of anxiety and mental distress. The final chat logs showed that Adam discussed his plans to end his life.

Sadly, this isn’t the only story like this, and it speaks to the ongoing challenges we face as AI becomes more commonplace.

Build your mental health crisis strategy

Navigating the introduction of AI to mental health care feels like a huge challenge, because it is. But it’s not your responsibility to find one big catch-all solution.

Instead, we’d encourage you to focus on building out your knowledge and confidence in supporting people in your life who might struggle with their mental health.

We still have spaces on our upcoming FREE Mental Health Awareness training (Nov 6, 2025), to help increase your knowledge of mental ill health and feel confident in signposting to resources. You’ll learn to identify and manage stress, and establish healthy boundaries.

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Mental Health Charity Safe In Our World Turns Six & Press Pause 2025 Begins

Can you believe Safe In Our World just turned 6 years old? Our mental health charity has grown so much, and we’re on a trajectory of positive change.

We’ll spare you the comprehensive recap of the last year (saving that for our next Impact Report) and jump straight into the celebrations. 🥳 What a wonderful year we’ve had at Safe In Our World! We’ve seen growth within our team, our Board of Trustees, our Clinical Advisory Board, and we’ve welcomed new Level Up partners.

But most importantly, for us at least, we’ve been able to directly engage with so many of you in our community. Our team has been able to meet and talk with hundreds of games industry professionals, consultants, and graduates – at events across the globe.

We’ve brought you talks, roundtables, and resources. We’ve been able to listen to your stories, your lived experiences, and your hopes for the future. The opportunity to connect with you has fuelled our motivation and filled us with inspiration. We’re rocketing into another year of Safe In Our World with fresh ideas and boundless enthusiasm.

🚀 Our Continued Mission

Can you imagine a games industry free from crunch? Where burnout isn’t a constant companion, and imposter thinking is met with compassion? Picture it, just for a moment, a future where every workplace has the tools, resources, and training to deliver psychological safety. A future where everyone feels empowered to seek support should they need it. A future without mental health stigma.

It’s what we picture every day. It’s what we work towards, and it’s what we’ll continue to work towards, for as long as it takes to make that picture come to life. We’ve already taken steps towards that future, and we thank all of you who’ve joined us on this journey.

FOR six whole years, we’ve been delivering mental health support to the games industry and global gaming communities. This mission means everything to us, and I’m so proud of our team for what we’ve achieved so far. We’re also so thankful to our Level Up partners, our workshop leaders and speakers, our fundraisers, and our charity friends. Our future is bright, bold, and brimming with creativity. – Sarah

We’re still a small crew. We’re often met with surprise when people learn we’re only a team of six. But what we lack in size, we make up for in tenacity. Our small team can create big change, thanks to the support of our Ambassadors, Patrons, Trustees, Advisors, and many charity friends. Together we’re unstoppable.

📢 (Re)introducing Our Team

Around this time last year, we welcomed Em (Communications & Events Manager) and Jess (BizDev & Marketing Manager) to the team. Jess has been working behind the scenes, connecting us with new opportunities and developing our strategy. They’ve been focused on how we communicate value and reach further in the industry.

Em has been cooking over the last month to deliver our fresh Press Pause 2025 campaign (more on that later) and branding up our resources. They’ve also been focused on making fundraising fun and accessible, bringing their passion for storytelling to our charity initiatives.

Then, in June this year, we were joined by Izzie (Operations Coordinator), who has been working hard to improve our Level Up programme, helping companies across the games industry access game-changing training, resources, and mental health support. Catch her in your inbox!

Line of Polaroid photos, from left to right, showing the team members at Safe In Our World: Sarah, Sky, Jess, Em, Izzie. Their names are written on the Polaroid prints, with some colourful doodles.

The Safe In Our World team absolutely ATE this year! Obviously, that was partly down to the excellent decision in hiring me. What a slay! – Izzie

You might have bumped into Sarah (Charity Director) at a few roundtables this year. She’s been out in the wild, waving the Safe In Our World flag, raising awareness, and securing opportunities for us to reach more devs.

Let’s not forget our part-time finance whizz, Tash (Finance Administrator). who’s given us even more of her time this year as our operation grows.

And then there’s Sky, our fantastic Partnerships & Training Manager, who has pioneered our new Mental Health Star Accreditation over the last year. They are the powerhouse behind so much of what we do as a charity. Be it toolkits, training, or new initiatives to make our industry a safer place; they’re spearheading the positive change our industry needs.

🌠 Our Mental Health Star Accreditation

Undoubtedly, the shining star of this last year at Safe In Our World has been our new Mental Health Star Accreditation – unveiled in August 2025 – bringing the first-ever evidence-based mental health accreditation to the games industry. This initiative propels us forward in our mission to introduce best practices and celebrate companies already leading the way in workplace wellbeing! 👏

💡 We’d like to thank Doug Cockle, the voice of Geralt in The Witcher video games franchise, for lending his voice to our Accreditation launch video – as a patron and friend to Safe In Our World, his support and enthusiasm means a lot to our team.

We’ve had NAUGHT but appreciation for our community. Under the pressure of all the uncertainty and change happening in the games industry, you’ve still shown up for us and supported us. We’ve been shown so much love this year, especially around the launch of our new Mental Health Star Accreditation – we’re so grateful. – Sky

If you’re thinking ahead to what you want to achieve in 2026, consider becoming a Mental Health Star. Our accreditation is designed to be accessible, flexible, and scalable – so whether you’re a two-person team or a AAA studio, an accreditation with Safe In Our World will help you take your workplace wellbeing to the next level.

🎮 Press Pause 2025

Are you ready to unravel a mystery? 👀 To celebrate our charity’s 6th anniversary, we’ve launched our annual Press Pause fundraiser – with a puzzling twist!

Inspired by the success of Blue Prince, which launched in April this year, we put our thinking hats on and came up with a fundraising challenge for those who love a good puzzle (or six)!

Dive into Press Pause: Mysteries Of The Mind, our latest campaign to get your brain whirring. Help Safe In Our World seek out a mysterious hidden truth, which has fractured into pieces and hidden itself within six puzzles. Unravel the riddles, uncover the clues, and investigate the Safe House. Who knows, you might learn something about yourself along the way.

Keyart for Press Pause: Mysteries of the Mind fundraiser for Safe In Our World.

Visit our Press Pause 2025 campaign page on Tiltify to download the Investigation Kit for free, and consider setting up a fundraiser or donating. The kit has been designed so you can play solo or with friends or colleagues. We’ve pulled together a Press Pause Creator Guide to help streamers get started with Mysteries Of The Mind, including insights to share about our charity and recommendations for playing the campaign live on stream.

🎓 Ambassador Applications

For those who missed it, this is a gentle reminder that the application process for becoming a Safe In Our World Ambassador (Class of 2026) is currently open. If you have a passion for mental health in games and feel you can volunteer your time to our mission, apply through our form.

Becoming an Ambassador:

You sign our code of conduct and uphold our values
You take part in at least one key activity each year (e.g. streaming, fundraising, public speaking, writing for us)
You champion our mission in mental health in everything you do

Anyone with a passion for reducing mental health stigma and increasing awareness is welcome to apply, regardless of where you work – or whether you’ve applied before. We highly encourage people of marginalised backgrounds to apply.

New ambassadors receive a Class of 2026 merch gift, priority access to internal news and initiatives, opportunities to contribute to content, access to resources and training, a bespoke monthly newsletter, and a place among our many amazing Ambassadors on the Safe In Our World website.

Apply today – deadline for submissions is 24th October, 11:59 UK time.

Thank you for celebrating six years with us. Play safe! ✌️

Skills utilised:
News

Celebrate Our Upcoming Anniversary With The Wired & Humble Mega Bundle

Wired and Humble launch exciting bundle worth £195.25, in celebration of our Safe In Our World anniversary.

As you know, this week Safe In Our World is turning six, and we’re celebrating in style. Wired Productions and Humble have delivered a jam-packed bundle filled with fantastic games in support of our mental health charity – worth a whopping £195.25!

You’ll receive up to 13 great games (depending on how much you pay), and a portion of the proceeds go towards supporting Safe In Our World, helping us continue to deliver game-changing mental health tools, resources, and training.

Wired the same way

Did you know, Wired Productions played a crucial role in the founding of Safe In Our World. Our charity started as a direct response to real events in the lives and work of the founders.

The team behind Wired Productions (Leo, Neil, and Gareth) wanted to do something meaningful that could help others struggling with mental health challenges. That spark ignited the rocket fuel that helped Safe In Our World soar.

Since that time, our charity has grown into a fully independent organisation. But we still look back on those early days and feel thankful the conversations that needed to happen happened. Our mission has always been to empower discussion about mental health, and that’s where this all began.

We’ll always be grateful to Wired for all their support. In fact, founder Leo Zullo continues to steer our board of trustees, keeping the original vision alive as we continue to grow.

What’s in the Anniversary Bundle?

Out now, the Wired & Humble Safe In Our World Anniversary Bundle is loaded with games you will want to play immediately. Here’s the full line-up!

Bulwark Evolution: Falconeer Chronicles | Soar through the skies and defend your world.
Gori: Cuddly Carnage | Cute, chaotic, and gloriously unpredictable.
Martha is Dead | Psychological horror that sticks with you.
Deliver Us the Moon | Explore space in this atmospheric adventure.
GRIP: Combat Racing | Fast, destructive, and totally thrilling.
Arcade Paradise | Build and manage your very own arcade empire.
Aaero 2 | Music, rhythm, and high-speed action.
The Falconeer | Epic aerial battles across stunning landscapes.
Those Who Remain | Suspenseful and eerie storytelling at its finest.
Fractured Minds | Thought-provoking mental health experiences.
Tin Hearts | Physics-based puzzles that bend brains and reality.
The Last Worker | Satirical storytelling and immersive world-building.
Tiny Troopers: Global Ops | Tiny soldiers, big missions, even bigger fun.

Support mental health, play great games

Whether you are a long-time supporter of Safe in Our World, a fan of Wired Productions, or just love a good Humble Bundle, this is your chance to play amazing games while supporting mental health.

Every bundle purchase helps us continue raising awareness, creating resources and toolkits, facilitating training, and delivering mental health initiatives across the games industry and global gaming community. It’s also a great opportunity to show some love to the talented team at Wired Productions and help support the Humble community. So, grab the bundle and dive in for mental health in games!

Skills utilised:
News

Get a head-start on World Mental Health Day with Safe In Our World

Either you’re reading this in advance of World Mental Health Day (October 10), or it’s arrived and you’re wondering how to mark the day. Don’t worry, we’re here to give you a little inspiration!

Share to your socials 👉 Click to download our free World Mental Health Day square (1:1) or Instagram (4:3) graphic to share, to let your community know you’ll be a tether if they ever feel lost in the dark.

What is World Mental Health Day, really?

What’s it for? What does it actually achieve? It might feel like we have lots of awareness days for lots of things (because we do), and you might ask the question: haven’t we achieved awareness by now? It’s a fair question, but like with most things in life, it’s never that simple.

‘Awareness’ requires upkeep. It’s something we maintain, not something we attain. So, yes, days like World Mental Health Day are still vital and still serve to raise awareness.

But one day (out of 365) isn’t enough to resolve the global crisis we’re facing in mental health. According to the World Health Organization, over a billion people are living with mental health conditions – such as anxiety and depression. Odds are you know someone who’s struggling, or maybe you’re the one struggling.

Drifting astronaut in space, with text "can you be a tether in the dark?" behind them, against a space background, and Safe In Our World logo. Image reflects the style used in the free downloadable World Mental Health Day graphics provided by the charity.

What can I do about it?

Naturally, when dealing with big problems, we’ll look for big solutions. To really tackle the root cause of mental ill health, we’d need to look at sustained investment in mental health services, social reform, and significant action to tackle inequality. It’s not something we can really summarise in one blog, and we don’t want to overwhelm you.

But neither do we want you to feel like you don’t have the power to make a difference. You don’t necessarily need to bring the big solutions! Change comes in all shapes and sizes, and we’ve got some simple, sustainable ideas to help you take action. We’re not expecting you to do all of these, but committing to one or two can help the mental health of your community, friends, and family.

🔴 I’m low energy right now, what can I do?

Before we dive into this one, it’s important we recognise those who are feeling this way, who still show up and throw their support behind our mission. That’s a big deal! We’re very aware that there are many within Safe In Our World’s community who personally struggle with their mental health, or have a dynamic disability or chronic illness, which makes it harder to keep pushing forward. But still, you keep pushing alongside us. We see you.

When you’re low on energy, you need to prioritise your own mental health. It’s not selfish, it’s survival. If you’re struggling with your mental health right now, we’d encourage you to seek out some support, because you don’t need to struggle alone. If you’re still eager to get involved, you could consider the following:

Tell someone how you’re feeling
Share a self-care tip that helps you
Demonstrate how to set healthy boundaries

🟡 I want to improve mental health at work, what can I do?

Thank you! People like you help us create a safer, healthier games industry for current and future generations. You don’t need to be in a leadership position to push for change (but it helps when leaders get involved). There are many ways you can help, so we’ll list off a bunch, and you can find the one(s) that fit you best:

Register now for our FREE mental health awareness training (Oct 9 & Nov 6)
Promote and join our Level Up initiative (for free resources and training)
Share notes and insights from training you attend with colleagues
Lead by example by taking your breaks and finishing on time wherever possible
Create your own Human Handbook for improved communication at work
Contribute to and share stories from Safe In Our World with colleagues
Get accredited and become a Mental Health Star

It’s a great time to become a Level Up partner! We’ve just given our Level Up Employer Toolkit a glow up (click to download a sample copy). Much like this list, we’ve included a bunch of ideas for how you can improve mental health in the workplace – only it’s way more comprehensive, and marked as either essential, an easy win, having a cost implication, or an industry best practice that’d get you a gold star in our books.

🟢 I want to help mental health in my games community, what can I do?

This is a great ambition to have, and we need more people who think like you. Friends and community are vital elements of good mental health, and provide us with so much support throughout our lives. We’ve been living through a loneliness epidemic (1 in 6 people experience loneliness) and social isolation takes a great toll on our wellbeing. Thankfully, video games can offer a haven from that darkness. Many people find connection and friendship through video games, and the communities that grow around them.

You can help nurture those communities and maintain safe online spaces where everyone feels welcome and included. Don’t underestimate the impact you can have. You might help one person that you know of, but many others then see the example you’re setting. You can help inspire more people to take an active role in increasing mental health awareness and online safety. (You’re also very welcome to attend our free Mental Health Awareness Training!)

Volunteer as a Discord or forum moderator
Share your mental health story and amplify other people’s stories
Prioritise signposting in community spaces you look after
Encourage positive interactions and reject toxicity
Play mental health-themed games alone, with friends, or on stream

When we focus on the big solutions, we can sometimes lose sight of the small, sustainable ways to improve mental health awareness – and we hope these lists have helped you focus in on what you can do right now! Maybe you’re the kind of person with the energy, ambition and drive to lobby governments, shape policies and lead movements. That’s amazing, and we can’t wait to see you make waves in mental health!

For the rest of us, remember that some waves start as ripples. A small impact is still an impact – and even if you help just one person, that’s one person more than if you didn’t take action. So, this World Mental Health Day, commit to making a ripple.

Skills utilised:
News

Safe In Our World Ambassador Class of 2026 – Applications Are Open!

Safe In Our World is welcoming new Ambassador applications for our Class of 2026!

As we enter October, and with Safe In Our World’s anniversary just around the corner, we’re pleased to announce that Ambassador applications for the Class of 2026 are now open.

We’ve been privileged to expand our network of mental health champions over the last year, with Ambassadors from across the world helping us to raise awareness and start conversations. And now, we’re again encouraging passionate mental health advocates with big ideas to apply – and join our mission to end mental health stigma!

What is the Safe In Our World Ambassador Program?

We’ve been running our Ambassador Program for almost as long as we’ve existed as a charity. Every year, we welcome 25 new Ambassadors as representatives of Safe In Our World.

These amazing people champion our message across various platforms, at events, and within the work they do. They help us fundraise, create content, or contribute to our blog, and some even bring our mission to others through public speaking events.

Three Polaroid photos containing various images of Ambassadors for Safe In Our World from the Class of 2025.

Becoming a Safe In Our World Ambassador

If you want to become an official charity ambassador, you need to apply through our Ambassador application form. We select 25 new ambassadors by committee – reviewing ideas, inspiration and initiatives. People provide as much detail as possible, and assume anonymity.

As an ambassador, you would be expected to:

Sign our Code of Conduct and uphold our values
Take part in at least one key activity each year (e.g. fundraising, contributing to website)
Champion our mission in mental health

Anyone who is passionate about our mission can apply, regardless of where they work. This is open to everyone, and we highly encourage people of marginalized backgrounds to apply.

What will Ambassadors receive?

As a Safe In Our World Ambassador, you’ll benefit from opportunities to attend local and virtual events, access exclusive mental health training, and receive a bespoke monthly newsletter with charity updates, initiatives and ideas for how you can support us.

Gain priority access to internal news and initiatives
Contribute to the Safe In Our World website
Your profile features on our Ambassador page
Exclusive access to Ambassador Discord channels
Represent the charity at physical/virtual events
Attend exclusive mental health training
Receive Ambassador Class of 2026 Merch Gift

Applications will close at 23:59 UK time on the 24th October 2025, so please make sure to get your application in before that deadline! All applicants (whether successful or not) will be contacted in November 2025.

We can’t wait to meet our Ambassador Class of 2026 and start working together to grow Safe In Our World and prioritise mental health awareness across the global games industry. ✨

Skills utilised:
News

Safe In Our World brings FREE Mental Health Awareness Training to Community Managers

Safe In Our World is delivering free bespoke mental health awareness workshops for Community Managers, supported by Humble and facilitated by Mind Fitness.

Ready to level up your mental health awareness and learn practical tools for safeguarding yourself and your community? Humble is supporting a series of Mental Health Awareness training workshops, developed and delivered by Mind Fitness, to address the specific challenges that Community Managers face in the games industry.

Why do Community Managers need mental health awareness?

The position of Community Manager is still relatively new, but has quickly become a critical role in the games industry. Over the last decade, we’ve seen Community Management take many shapes – often evolving into one person doing many jobs!

Managing forums, creating content, scheduling social media posts, gathering and analysing player feedback, bug reporting, writing and delivering developer update videos, delving into the world of influencer marketing, the list goes on.

If you ask two Community Managers what they do, chances are their answers won’t be the same. Still, they’ll likely have experienced the pressure of trying to be everywhere at once. It’s also likely they’ll have encountered toxicity or had to moderate difficult social interactions.

The role of the Community Manager can seem limitless. Without clear frameworks and established expectations, the internal and external demands can be overwhelming. We must provide CMs with the tools to look after their own wellbeing, by giving them the knowledge and confidence to signpost players to resources, and switch off when they’re off the clock. – Andy, Mind Fitness

What skills can Community Managers learn through mental health training?

Managing online communities presents significant, unique challenges that require confidence, decisiveness, and compassion to resolve. We’re committed to establishing more mental health role models and allies across the games industry, and Community Managers are leading the way.

With our free three-hour digital workshop, CMs can enhance their understanding of mental health and learn how to apply practical and emotional skills to protect themselves and others. They’ll learn how to establish healthy boundaries online and how to signpost players towards mental health support and resources.

The course will also cover:

Identifying and managing stress
Understanding mental health, stigma, and discrimination
Insights into key policies and advice from the WHO (World Health Organisation)
A closer look at anxiety and mood disorders
What to do in a mental health emergency
Understanding wellbeing and safeguarding your own mental health
Developing your emotional intelligence

It’s wild to think I started my mental health awareness journey doing this training with Mind Fitness and Safe In Our World back in 2021, when I was a Community Manager. It unlocked something in me, and now, fast-forward four years, I’m working at the mental health charity where it all began. I learned so much from Mind Fitness, including skills I’ve now put into practice time and time again, protecting the mental health of the communities I’ve been privileged to serve. But it also helped me look after myself online! I’d recommend it to any CM or anyone in a player-facing role. Or just anyone in games, really. – Em

How to sign up for free Mental Health Awareness training

If you’re a Community Manager or someone in a player-facing role, or you just want to gain a deeper insight into mental health in the context of gaming communities, you can sign up on Eventbrite.

If you are a manager or team leader and you’d like to register members of your team for this three-hour mental health awareness workshop, we’d recommend sending over the Eventbrite link so they can register themselves (just so they’ll get the email invite for the session, and reminders when it’s about to start).

Being a Community Manager involves navigating toxicity, difficult conversations, and a minefield of potential miscommunication. Give your Community Managers the toolkit to succeed (and to switch off and protect their own wellbeing), and register now.

Skills utilised:
News

Become a Mental Health Star with the Safe In Our World Accreditation

Taking your workplace wellbeing to the next level with Safe In Our World’s Mental Health Star Accreditation.

Safe In Our World’s new initiative – the Mental Health Star Accreditation – provides games industry companies the chance to shine! Demonstrate your commitment to workplace wellbeing, and be recognised for your successes. ✨🏆

The Mental Health Star Accreditation has been created by experts working in the intersection between mental health and games development, with the long-term goal of creating psychologically safer working environments. We are uniquely positioned, and able to understand the nuances of the games industry, and the unique challenges businesses within our industry are facing.

Is the Accreditation for me?

Our Accreditation is flexible and scalable. We recognise the scope of diversity within our industry, from AAA studios to two-person teams. Our key focus is bringing everyone the tools and resources needed to safeguard their team, regardless of company age or size.

We’ve spent a great deal of time developing this accreditation to be as accessible as possible for all companies in the games industry. You’ll have support throughout, with a guidebook that walks you through every stage of the process, and advice for how to deploy an employee survey to get the highest engagement in your team. And we’re always just an email away when you need something specific. – Sky (Partnerships & Training Manager)

We begin with a company-wide audit, collecting any evidence of mental health policies and processes. We also help you deploy a practical, accessible employee survey to gain actionable insights into culture and sentiment within your team. Once the audit is complete, you receive a full report that provides examples of what you’ve been doing well, and recommendations and support in ways you can improve.

If you’re wondering whether this accreditation is right for you, the short answer is “yes”. But you are more than welcome to get in touch for an informal chat, so you can ask any questions you might have before locking in. We’re actually delightful to hang out with, so even if you don’t go through with the accreditation at this time, you at least get to enjoy our company. 💚

What does Accreditation offer me?

What doesn’t it offer? For employers, becoming a Mental Health Star accredited company means accessing key insights into your own team’s sentiment, and then having a clear plan of action for what to do with those insights. It also means your achievements are recognised, with a seal of approval that potential talent can use to identify you as a trustworthy employer. Accreditation with Safe In Our World means you care enough to act – that you put your team first. It means you are a pioneer in mental health, and that you’re actively contributing to making the video games industry a safer place for everyone.

For people working (or looking for work) in games, you benefit from being able to identify employers you actually want to work with. This seal of approval means that a company has committed to a comprehensive review of their policies and processes. It shows a dedication to raising awareness and safeguarding the mental wellbeing of their whole team. And it shows a willingness to improve!

It’s also something you can feel proud of yourself, because you’re a part of the change you want to see in the games industry. You can take pride in your place of work, and play an active role in making our industry a safer place to work for current and future generations.

How do I become a Mental Health Star?

We’re so glad you asked! It’s very simple, really. You just need to get in touch with our team to book in time for a friendly, casual chat. We’ll talk you through what you can expect from start to finish, and answer any of your questions.

The key thing to remember is that this accreditation is designed to be flexible. What we mean by that is there’s no “bad time” to start, because there’s no set deadline to stick to. Our industry is challenging, fast-paced, always moving – and finding time in your schedule can be difficult. We’ll adapt to your needs and your workload.

So, let’s get something in the diary. We cannot wait to work with you. Let’s celebrate the wins, and identify the gaps – and make the games industry a healthier and happier place for all to enjoy.

Skills utilised:
Mental Health Star Accreditation, News

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