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Nativz Gaming is thrilled to announce a landmark partnership with Play Aid for the 2024/25 Ireland Esports Collegiate Series. This collaboration represents a commitment to building mental health support for Irish esports students while supporting the societal challenges surrounding mental well-being.

Nativz Gaming partners with Play Aid, a global non-profit organization, to provide mental health support for esports students in the 2024/25 Ireland Esports Collegiate Series.
This partnership represents a first-of-its-kind initiative in the Irish collegiate esports scene, aimed at creating a healthy and supportive environment for esports athletes.
All Student Reps will be trained in psychological first aid, embedding mental health support into local esports societies, making it about both performance and well-being.

A Powerful Alliance for Esports and Mental Health
Play Aid, an international non-profit organization, supported by global men’s health charity Movember, is focused on improving men’s mental health through the power of play. With over 60 years of combined experience working with young people and an impressive 250 peer-reviewed published papers, the Play Aid team brings unparalleled expertise in mental health, coaching, performance science and esports.

One of the primary initiatives of this partnership is to establish a network of qualified Player CARE Coaches, trained in psychological first aid. The free course is open to all and provides crucial insights into mental health disorders, how to spot signs and symptoms of mental ill health, and how to foster open conversations about mental health with friends and peers.

"Our Player CARE Coaching Programme provides an essential foundation for helping individuals in crisis. In the same way that sports teams are required to have a first aider to deal with physical injuries, we want esports teams to embed Player CARE Coaches to support teammates experiencing psychological distress. We know that young men in particular are less likely to ask for help and by training Student Reps, we're embedding psychological support in the spaces young men spend their time, so support is there when they need it most," said Dr. John P Mills, British Psychological Society Chartered Psychologist and founder of Play Aid.

As part of the partnership, Nativz Gaming's Leadership Team has recently completed psychological first aid training. Now, the focus will shift to training Student Reps across Ireland before the end of the Winter Series, which kicks off this coming Monday, 7th October.

"After completing my training session with Play Aid I feel much more confident in my ability to provide care to those who need it. The Play Aid team has already made a significant impact across the globe for the betterment of mental health in the esports space. I'm confident this partnership will aid them in furthering that mission within Ireland," says Head of Social and Content Sammy Davies who initiated this partnership.

Nativz Gaming Founder & CEO Kurt Pittman goes on to say, "Nativz Gaming is dedicated to providing our esports athletes with the support they need to excel both in the game and in life. Our partnership with Play Aid reflects our commitment to fostering a healthy, balanced community in esports. By working with Play Aid we’re ensuring our students have access to crucial mental health support locally."

Leading the Way with Play Aid and Movember
Funded by Movember, the leading charity focused on men's health, Play Aid is committed to changing the way men’s mental health support is delivered, particularly in male-dominated spaces like esports. The partnership between Nativz Gaming and Play Aid is designed to not only provide mental health resources to students but also to create lasting change in how mental well-being is approached in the esports community.


Nativz Gaming Teams Up with Play Aid to Support Mental Health in Ireland’s Collegiate Esports

#### **Introduction**

We believe that esports societies and Gaming Guilds have a unique opportunity to foster positive mental health within their communities. To support this, Play Aid is offering micro grants to help societies and guilds organize events that raise awareness about mental health while providing valuable training to their members.

#### **Objective**

Our goal is to empower esports societies and Gaming Guilds to create engaging and impactful events that promote mental health and well-being. By partnering with us, your society or guild can contribute to a critical cause while enhancing the skills and knowledge of your members. Some of the world's top esports teams have already taken our training and we'd love for your team to be next.

#### **Grant Opportunities**

As if receiving **free** training from some of the world's leading experts on mental health and performance isn't enough, Play Aid is offering 10 grants of up to 100GBP/115EUR to help you put on an event for your society or guild. The amount awarded will be decided by our team and based on criteria such as the impact of the event. These grants can be used to cover event-related costs such as:

*   **Prizes for participants**

*   **Marketing and promotion**

*   **Event equipment and materials**

We want to make it easy for you to host an event that not only entertains but also educates and empowers your community.

#### **Event Ideas**

We encourage creativity in your event planning, but here are a few ideas to get you started:

*   **Mental Health Awareness Tournament**: Host a gaming tournament where participants also engage in discussions or workshops on mental health.

*   **Wellness Game Night**: Organize a casual gaming event that incorporates mental health tips and resources.

*   **Panel Discussion and Play**: Hold a panel discussion on mental health in gaming, followed by a friendly competition or gaming session.

*   **Cross Guid/Society Clash:** Invite another society or guild to join in and widen your knowledge and support even further.

#### **Training Requirements**

As part of the grant program, we ask that each participating society or guild to follow some of the top teams in esports and commit to the following:

*   **One Member**: At least one representative from your society or guild must complete the **Player CARE Coach Educator** training. This course is designed to equip leaders with the tools they need to support mental health in gaming communities. The Player CARE Coach Educator training takes around 4 hours to complete and also requires the training of others. 

*   **12-16 Members**: A minimum of 12 members from your society or guild must complete the **Player CARE Coach** training, which focuses on practical strategies for maintaining mental health and well-being in a gaming environment. The online Player CARE Coach training takes 1-hour to complete and is perfect for team captains and mental health conscious teammates. 

We expect each society or guild to commit at least a portion of their event to collectively engaging with the training. This allows the Player CARE Coach Educator to meet the demands of their training, whilst also making for a more enjoyable and interactive training experience for everyone. Coach Educators have two options: (1) if they are confident in the content they can deliver a live workshop, or (2) if they need a bit more time, they can adopt a hybrid approach utilising our on demand version of the Player CARE Coach training as a watch party while facilitating the interactive components only. 

Please note: Attendance is measured by the successful completion of pre and post surveys via our independent evaluation partner, First Person Consulting.

#### **How to Apply**

Applying for a grant is simple! Just fill out our online application [form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdD2tFTzTmoZTNvUWZus60VlkpvecQ2U1N6mpxGiZz22abzfA/viewform?usp=sf_link), where you’ll be asked to provide:

*   **Basic Information**: Your society/guild name and primary contact details.

*   **Event Description**: A brief overview of the event you plan to host.

*   **Training Commitment**: Your commitment to ensuring the required training is completed by your members.

#### **Support and Resources**

We’re here to help you every step of the way. Upon approval, we are happy to support you with (optional):

*   **Marketing Materials**: Templates for posters, social media posts, and other promotional content.

*   **Event Planning Resources**: Checklists and guides to help you organize and execute a successful event.

*   **Dedicated Support**: A point of contact within our team to answer any questions and provide additional support as needed.

#### **Why Participate?**

By taking part in this initiative, your society or guild will:

*   **Promote Positive Mental Health**: Help your members and the broader gaming community learn about and prioritize mental well-being.

*   **Gain Valuable Skills**: Through our training, your members will be better equipped to support themselves and others.

*   **Strengthen Community Bonds**: Hosting events is a great way to bring your community together around a meaningful cause.

#### **Deadline**

Applications close on the 13th of September at 7pm (BST).

Events must be completed by the 13th of December 2024 to receive payment.


September 2024 Funding Opportunity

We are pleased to offer up to ten grants to esports societies and gaming guilds based in the UK, Ireland and Australia.

Each grant includes training to become a Play Aid Player CARE Coach Educator (i.e., someone who is qualified to deliver Play Aid's Psychological First Aid training), funding for a small community event or tournament, and prizes. The total value of the grant is up to £3000 (£2700 for the training and £300 for event/tournament and prizes).

It is hoped that esports societies and gaming guilds will use this as an opportunity to embed psychological first aiders in all their teams moving forwards.

To apply for the grant, please email [john@playaid.net ](mailto:john@playaid.net)with your name, the esports society or gaming guild you are representing, how many people you expect will take part in your community event or tournament, and any additional details you feel may help the awarding panel select your application.

The funding call is open until midnight on the 31st of May and events must be completed by the 30th of September 2024. 


Funding Opportunity for Esports Societies and Guilds

Using the money raised by our epic community, we’ve been able to fund 11 new mental health initiatives including [Gamers vs Depression](https://gamersvsdepression.org/).

Gamers vs Depression uses online gaming as a vehicle for developing depression literacy and better social connections in adolescent males. Delivered by Play Aid based in Colchester, Essex, the aim is for ‘gaming teams’ to act as a social/peer-support group where young men can openly discuss challenges outside of their immediate network in a safe and supportive manner. 

###### " People have been turning to gaming to fulfil that social connection we’ve not been able to have had in person over the last year. "

The funding comes through our Social Connections Challenge; aimed at identifying strategies that will strengthen the social connections of men who are struggling with isolation and poor mental health, particularly in the wake of COVID-19 lockdowns.


Press release originally shared <https://uk.movember.com/story/gaming-as-a-vehicle-to-engage-young-men-around-their-mental-health>


Using Gaming to Support Young Men's Mental Health

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