About
It all started with a few people wanting to make a difference in the gaming world.
Guardians Mental Health was born from a shared love of gaming, where our founding members first met playing online through LFG groups. Each was inspired by the passion of the budding the gaming community and the positive impact they were already having on their fellow players.
Starting off our initial efforts raised funds for other organizations that promoted mental health awareness for gamers.
We held our first charity stream as a group on February 10th, 2018, with a long list of streamers from the Destiny Community. As time went on, we began to see a space to create our own programs and tools to support gamers. The organization a year later became Guardians Mental Health, a 501c3 nonprofit of its own.
After over a year of doing charity streams, podcasts and maintaining our peer support Discord server, Guardians MH received its official 501c3 non-profit designation in April 2019. Receiving this accreditation reaffirmed and bolstered our efforts and mission: to promote mental health awareness and provide easily accessible mental health resources for the gaming community.
We started as a few individuals who wanted to make a difference. As we have grown to a volunteer staff of 16, Guardians MH has evolved to incorporate various support programs and has had the opportunity to partner with several incredible organizations. Every step of the way, we have been astounded by the gaming community's generosity- with their time, enthusiasm, and their donations.
While gaming has traditionally been a solitary activity, our own experiences in matchmaking, MMO's, and other online spaces give us unique insight into just how connected gamers and gaming communities have become. We also know firsthand how much good can be done when working together in these spaces.
Our first program, the Guardians Mental Health Discord server. It started as a way for gamers to come together in a safe online space to discuss anything and everything, knowing that someone would be there to listen. The GMH server, which focuses on peer support, currently has over 3000 members as of December 2021. Our passionate volunteer moderators are also trained in Mental Health First Aid. The GMH server became a verified server in October 2020 and a partnered Discord server in December 2020.
While all members are aware that the server is not a replacement for therapy, the GMH Discord server is maintained as a safe and comfortable space where members can connect within their community.
In late 2020, we created the Ambassador program. This effort was to help reach players in the gaming and streaming spaces where they already were.
As of December 2021, we have had the pleasure of calling over 21 gamers Ambassadors for Guardians Mental Health. Before joining our program, these incredible gamers were already mental health advocates in their own right. As a part of our team, we hope to provide them with additional tools, training, and resources to provide a positive gaming experience and a safe space for their communities.
One powerful tool that we have created is the RTS (Real-Time Support) Bot. This program provides on-demand, searchable access to vetted and curated mental health resources. The RTS Bot runs inside Twitch channels, Discord servers, and Web Browsers. We work tirelessly, constantly updating it to contain the most up-to-date information and links.
Thrive XP, seamlessly integrates mental health resources into the gaming space. With approximately one in five individuals experiencing mental illness, addressing this issue is crucial. Over 90% of those with mental health problems report negative impacts from stigma and discrimination, hindering their ability to seek treatment and leading to social isolation.
Thrive XP collaborates with mental health professionals at Guardians MH to curate a comprehensive library of resources, catering to gamers’ unique needs. By incorporating these resources directly into gaming environments, Thrive XP breaks down barriers and encourages users to prioritize their mental well-being without interrupting their gaming experience.
In 2021, we created our Mental Health Kits program. These kits are physical representations of the ubiquitous in-game "health kit." It's focused on providing the same kind of practical mental health support our team has provided in digital spaces.
Each Mental Health kit, which ships free to individuals and organizations. It contains information and resources to assist gamers in real, tangible ways. Our trained and licensed staff help curate printed resources and sensory items to support gamers as they begin their mental health journey.
Our Mental Health Kit program has seen tremendous reception in a short amount of time, reaching over 21,000 gamers in need. Since their inception, our kits have travelled a combined 1.1 million miles/1.8 million kilometres, reaching gamers all over the US, Canada, and the UK.
Additionally, we have had the great opportunity to collaborate with several game studios and other mental health awareness and support groups. We have created specially curated Mental Health Kits focused on reaching an ever-widening audience of gamers.
Guardians Mental Health is not a replacement for dedicated therapy or professional medical care. We are a peer support group organized to advocate for mental health care in an effort to end the long-held stigmas around awareness and treatment.
Our goal is to help gamers take the first steps on their mental health journey. We assist by gathering meaningful resources, providing peer support, and assisting individuals in finding a mental health professional near them.
These small efforts in this vast field aim to provide a positive impact in the shared gaming and social spaces that we inhabit online.
Our Mental Health Kits are also available in rich digital format, including external links to all printable assets and audio recordings.