Newly published results show that the Presence of Mind initiative may be an effective way to deliver mental health information to a group of at-risk young adults.
OAKLAND, Calif., May 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — A first-of-its-kind mental health initiative, developed by Kaiser Permanente and esports organization Cloud9, has been found to be an effective way to support the mental health of young adult gamers and fans from esports, according to a new study. published today on NEJM catalyst.
presence of mind launched in May 2020 with the goal of reaching teens and young adults with positive mental health messages in places where they spend a lot of time: online gaming and esports platforms. The initiative includes two seasons of the live Twitch Stream series with featured players; mental health experts and influencers; creator-directed YouTube video content from some of esports’ favorite players sharing insights, positivity, and personal mental health messages; and a series of freeinteractive online training sessions to help address critical mental health issues. From May 2022Training sessions have been accessed by more than 51,000 teen and young adult players who have learned how to better manage their mental health and support their friends when they need it most.
As part of the initiative, Kaiser Permanente and Cloud9 collaborated with PGP (The Public Good Projects), a nonprofit public health organization responsible for some of the most successful health campaigns in the country. PGP conducted an independent longitudinal study that tracked the program’s impact on mental health stigma reduction and measured behavior change within the gaming community. PGP surveyed gamers and esports fans ages 18-25 in the fall of 2020 before committing to Presence of Mind and again in the summer of 2021.
The study authors found that respondents who participated in Presence of Mind reported a greater understanding of mental health issues than those who did not participate in the initiative. The study also found that respondents were:
- More than twice as likely to report knowing what advice to give to a friend with a mental health condition
- Nearly twice as likely to agree there has been an improvement in how the esports community approaches mental health
- Nearly twice as likely to show better attitudes toward mental health treatment, including counseling, medication, and recovery.
“Our ongoing goal with Presence of Mind is to help reduce the stigma of mental health conditions within the communities we serve, share community-developed and clinician-informed mental health and addiction care training resources, and build a safe and open space for conversations and empathy,” said Don Mordecai, MD, a Kaiser Permanente national leader for mental health and wellness. “We are pleased but not surprised by the results of this study which show that engaging with youth and young adults in places where they spend a great deal of their time can help increase their understanding of mental health problems and improve their attitudes towards treatment. , including counseling and recovery.”
“Our study finds that embedding a healthcare-led mental health initiative within already existing large-scale professional esports networks can be an effective way to support the mental health of young players and sports fans.” electronics,” said joe smyser, PhD, Executive Director, PGP. “We believe these findings fill a gap in the evidence base and demonstrate that this type of initiative is a novel way to reach a predominantly young male audience, who are traditionally less likely to engage in mental health care.”
According to the study authors, Presence of Mind is an initiative that can be used as a model for similar partnerships to reach young audiences, such as in the sports or music industries, or to expand into other health topics relevant to young adults. The study authors also say these findings could help inform future efforts to address mental health in the esports community, such as examining ways to include parents as a priority group for messaging.
“We’re pleased to see real-world evidence that Presence of Mind is helping drive more open conversations about mental health at Cloud9 and within the gaming community,” he said. jack etienne, founder and CEO of Cloud9. “The success of this initiative can show others in our industry and beyond that it is possible to engage youth and young adults in positive conversations about mental health and help promote a more inclusive environment for all.”
The Presence of Mind initiative with Cloud9 is Kaiser Permanente’s latest effort focused on addressing the mental health and wellness needs of its members, communities and the public. Since 2016, Kaiser Permanente Campaign Find your words has helped address the stigma that prevents many people from talking about mental health and wellness. Find Your Words offers a variety of resources including information on building resilience and reducing stress, and screening tools to inform further conversations about diagnosis and treatment, as well as ways to share inspirational stories, videos, and artwork from the site with others.
About PGP
PGP, a not-for-profit public health organization, designs the world’s most advanced health communication programs. PGP programs are conducted in partnership with public and private sector organizations and are rigorously evaluated through scientific peer review. Regardless of the topic or community served, experts from various disciplines combine best practices with innovative methods to improve health outcomes. For more information on PGP, visit www.publicgoodprojects.org/.
About Cloud9
Founded in 2013, Cloud9 has grown to become one of the most recognized esports organizations in the world. With industry-wide championships, unrivaled viewing hours, and extensive benefits packages for players and staff, Cloud9 prides itself on being the best in every category. Right now, Cloud9 features professional teams in Apex Legends, Chess, Fortnite, Halo, Hearthstone, League of Legends, Overwatch, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Teamfight Tactics, VALORANT, Wild Rift, and World of Warcraft. To learn more about Cloud9, visit www.cloud9.gg.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading nonprofit health care providers and health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente is on a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.6 million members in 8 states and the D.C.. Member and patient care is focused on your total health and is guided by your Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists and team of personal caregivers. Our knowledgeable and caring medical teams are trained and supported by industry-leading technological advances and tools for world-class health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to innovations in care, clinical research, health education, and community health support. For more information, go to about.kp.org.
For more information contact:
Diana yee, [email protected]510-225-5086
kira lost, [email protected]404-556-0062
SOURCE Kaiser Permanente
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