Gaming mental health charity Safe In Our World has announced the impending release of Sidekick, a physical journal full of activities themed around gaming and mental health. The book will be available to order via Peregrine Coast Press starting from July 15th, which is this coming Saturday.
According to a Safe In Our World press release, Sidekick was created as a "low-pressure way to get people thinking about their mental health". It consists of 140 pages filled with gaming and mental health-related activities, as well as creative prompts and pages on which you can simply doodle or write whatever you like.
As well as interactive elements, Sidekick will also offer "resources and advice on how to manage your own wellbeing". The idea is that through thinking about the games you play, you can connect with your own mental health and think about what might be affecting you at any given time.
Safe In Our World cites a study published in 2021 that shows online harassment has a negative impact on gamers' mental health. According to the study, one in five gamers who have been harassed online felt uncomfortable or upset after their session, one in seven felt isolated or alone, and one in ten experienced suicidal or depressive thoughts.
It's exactly that kind of problem that Safe In Our World and Sidekick are attempting to prevent or alleviate. Both video games and tabletop gaming have been shown to have a positive effect on mental health, but it's important for gamers to have access to the kinds of tools that can help them understand and improve their mental health.
You can check out Sidekick right now on Peregrine Coast Press' website, where you'll also be able to sign up to be notified when pre-orders for the journal begin. It's set to launch on Saturday.
