North American organisation eUnited has announced a strategic partnership with non-profit mental health care company Rise Above The Disorder (RAD).
As a result of the partnership, eUnited players and staff will receive access to mental health professionals throughout the duration of the agreement. Additionally, Mental health run-ins across the company will be ‘tackled head-on and in a timely manner’ for any party needing assistance, according to a release.
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eUnited General Manager Matthew Potthoff commented on the deal in a release: “I’m hoping that through this strategic partnership, we can not only help our players and staff at eUnited, but raise awareness for mental health in the gaming community and encourage other individuals to seek help and know it’s okay to do so.”
Rise Above The Disorder Director of Strategic Initiatives Joanathan Miller added: “Our mission has always been to make mental health services both accessible and affordable to those in need. With gaming at the heart of everything we do, it is essential for RAD to partner with organizations and individuals that share our passion, and recognise the importance of mental health in our industry.
“We are pleased to join eUnited in their effort to address mental health, and we look forward to the positive impact this partnership will have on so many lives.”
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eUnited additionally plans to use its platform to combat the stigma of mental health conditions in the gaming community by leveraging the organisation’s players and content to raise awareness. This includes fundraising activities on behalf of RAD, which aims to make mental health care more accessible for everyone.
Mental health is a frequently discussed topic in the competitive gaming industry, often igniting around serious issues as they come to a public head. Many organisations, such as GRID, Complexity Gaming, Cloud9, and the Counter-Strike Professional Players’ Association, have opted to actively engage mental well-being initiatives in recent times.
Esports Insider says: While certainly discussed more often in recent times, especially throughout the pandemic era, mental health still remains a secondary priority for many companies operating in esports. As such, it’s great to see eUnited teaming up with RAD and we look forward to seeing the public material produced from this union.