Nativz Gaming has announced a landmark partnership with Play Aid for the 2024/25 Ireland Esports Collegiate Series.
The collaboration is the first of its kind and represents a commitment to building mental health support for Irish esports students while supporting the societal challenges surrounding mental well-being.
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.
Play Aidis an international non-profit organization, supported by global men’s health charity Movember. It 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,” said Dr. John P Mills, British Psychological Society Chartered Psychologist and founder of Play Aid.
“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.”
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,” added Head of Social and Content at Nativz, Sammy Davies who initiated this partnership.
“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.”
“We are dedicated to providing our esports athletes with the support they need to excel both in the game and in life,” said Nativz Gaming Founder and CEO Kurt Pittman.
“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.”
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