In the online game World of Warships, there is a new button. Players with mental health issues who have suicidal thoughts can get quick help through this button.
This feature has been newly introduced in World of Warships: Together with the nonprofit organization Stack Up, Wargaming aims to raise awareness of mental health issues among players and offer immediate assistance.
Anyone who presses the “Suicide Emergency Help” button will be immediately redirected to Stack Up’s Discord channel or the organization’s hotline, where they will receive appropriate help. Trained personnel will assist the player.
We are excited to break new ground. This is a revolutionary step in providing psychosocial services to people. No one has done this before.
Stephen Machuga, Founder of Stack Up
If someone feels they need psychosocial services, they can simply press this button and will be instantly connected to Stack Up.
Help for everyone in need of assistance
Why is Wargaming implementing this? According to Artur Plociennik, Publishing Director of World of Warships, about 40% of US players of the online game are war veterans. They use the game to stay in touch with friends from their military days.
We did not plan or expect this when we designed the game. But we hear that people enjoy using it to reconnect with former friends from their military service.
Artur Plociennik, Wargaming
According to the Stars and Stripes website, about 20 US soldiers a day take their own lives on average, including active soldiers, reservists, and veterans.
This is the hope of the helpers: Stephen Machuga, founder of Stack Up, hopes that players will not make jokes and will only press the new button in World of Warships when they truly and seriously need it.
Any joke could mean that a Stack Up staff member is not available for someone who urgently needs help and support. Although Stack Up has newly recruited volunteers, they are not equipped to handle a large volume of help requests.
According to Stephen Machuga, it can be a significant help for a war veteran to talk to someone who takes their situation seriously.
We have received feedback from Wargaming:
Marko Valentic, Global Product Public Relations Manager, World of Warships, clarified whether such a system is planned in Germany:
The Operation Lifeboat is a campaign aimed at the USA, as a particularly large portion of our players come from the military/veteran community in this region.
We have partnered with Stack Up as our charity partner, and although US veterans and military personnel comprise the majority of their beneficiaries, they support all NATO members. Players from other countries can reach out to Stack Up’s hotline as long as they speak English, as the hotline is currently only available in this language.
Wargaming is always looking for new ways to collaborate with organizations that help different collectives around the world, and will be keeping an eye on potential partnerships in Germany.
Marko Valentic
Videogames can help overcome social phobias, as demonstrated by the story of a boy who found 900 new friends through PS4.
If dark thoughts plague you, you can reach the telephone counseling service at 0800/111 0 111 and 0800/11 0 22 – this is nationwide and free of charge.
