UKETC Esports Teams agree to landmark inclusion of Psychological First Aiders within their teams

UKETC Press Release - 21st April 2023
London, UK

Movember funded mental health initiative, co-created alongside gaming not-for-profit Play Aid, tailored to the gaming community is set to be rolled out across leading esports teams in the UK. The collaboration will promote the importance of psychological first aid within the esports community.

Fnatic, Resolve Esports, MNM Gaming, Excel Esports, Vexed Gaming, Endpoint, Method, and Manchester City Esports have psychological first aiders trained within their teams and commit to encouraging other esports organisations - of all levels - to take Play Aid’s free psychological first aid course, as part of the ‘Gamers vs. Depression’ programme with Movember.

Esports, like traditional sports, can take a toll on players’ mental health. The highly competitive nature of esports can cause stress, anxiety, and burnout, among other psychological issues. By having a  psychological first aider within every team, players can receive immediate support and guidance during a crisis, helping them to navigate their emotions and build resilience.

“We’re delighted to support Play Aid in their mission to promote mental health and wellbeing in the gaming and esports communities. We believe that every esports team should have access to psychological first aid and we hope that this collaboration will help to  encourage other teams in the space to take the mental health of their staff and athletes seriously.”
Jeff Simpkins, Vice-Chair of the UKETC

“We are thrilled to partner with teams within the UKETC to promote the importance of psychological first aid in esports teams. By providing free Psychological First Aid training, we hope to empower esports teams across the world to better support their players' mental health and wellbeing.”
Dr John Mills, Play Aid’s Managing Director

Play Aid, a mental health non-profit dedicated to promoting wellbeing in the gaming community, is supported by Movember, the leading global charity committed to changing the face of men’s health. With Movember’s funding, Play Aid is providing free Psychological First Aid training for the gaming community. The training will equip team members with the skills and knowledge to support players who may be experiencing a psychological crisis. The collaboration between Play Aid, Movember, and UKETC is a significant step towards promoting psychological wellbeing in Esports. The initiative will provide players with the tools they need to cope with the pressures of competitive gaming and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health in the gaming community. 

For more information on Play Aid, Movember, and UKETC, and their joint efforts to promote psychological first aid in esports teams, please visit their respective websites.

Dan Cooper, Director of Innovation at Movember said:
“The scale and influence of esports means that it will play an important part in Movember’s mission. By working closely with esports teams and engaging with the community we can highlight the importance of mental health, self-care and social connections - and to continue to inspire men to take action when it comes to their mental and physical health”.

The UKETC aims to empower its members and act as role-models to ensure a level of professionalism and consistency across key issues including safeguarding of minors, reducing online incidences of abusive behaviour, and improving diversity and equality within the esports industry, whilst ensuring that there is more opportunity for people to enjoy, engage, participate and achieve within esports. 

For further information please contact
Elliot Bond, Admin UKETC | uketc@britishesports.org 
or Daniel Chung, Chair | d.chung@mnm.gg