Mental Health Awareness Game Guide and Checklist
Mental Health Awareness Games are a great way for a team/group to dedicate their game to positive mental health while raising awareness about positive mental health and suicide prevention. Some groups have also added fundraising as a part of their project. Listed below are some of the major components. Please use as much of this information as helpful and also add your own fun ideas to make it a memorable event.
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Attached are some examples of Mental Health Awareness Games:
Team up with Your School's Mental Health Groups or Clubs: Many teams have teamed up with the Counseling And Physiological Services Group (CAPS) or Counseling group or Active Minds Chapters at their schools.
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Posters: Posters around the event help raise awareness and start conversations. Many examples are available on-line.
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Videos: Teams have also created videos of the players talking about their commitment to their own positive mental health. These videos can be posted on-line and or played between quarters.
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Pre-Game Announcement: Teams have created a script to be played prior to the game to let the fans know about the team’s game and commitment to raising awareness about positive mental health.
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Halftime Talks: We have given a short 2 minute talk at several half-times with both teams present to the players and fans about the AAF and the goals to support our athletes, their families and their fans as we all fight to break the stigma about mental health.
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T-shirts: The AAF has created specialized t-shirts for teams to wear for their warmups. This ties into the pre-game message. It also unifies the team around their commitment to mental health and wellness. The AAF will work with you and your program to assist with the cost of t-shirts.
Hint: Jamie Prajer is our T-shirt designer and make - She is awesome. Creative Bell Designs (jamie@creativebelldesign.com)
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Fundraising: Teams have set up tables with AAF flyers
and bracelets as giveaways. They can also sell shirts and
collect donations. A QR code is available in the checklist
below. Others have set up Go-Fund-Me campaigns to
collect donations and keep track of the amount of donations
they are collecting for the AAF. Others have donated the
games gate/admissions as a donation to the AAF.
The AAF has used that money to help these schools
with training for their faculty and/or students.
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Pre-Event Social Media: Teams have used their social media to promote their Mental health Awareness Game as a way to drive up attendance and start conversations.
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Additional Resources:
Sample Pre-game/Halftime Announcement:
“According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, millions of people are affected by mental illness each year. Across the country, many people just like you work, perform, create, compete, laugh, love and inspire every day. 1 in 5 US adults experienced serious mental health illness in 2021. 1 in 20 US adults experienced serious mental illness. 16.5% of US youth aged 6-17 experienced a mental health disorder. You are not alone. Today [YOUR TEAM] has partnered with the Alex Archie Foundation to help break the stigma about mental health and suicide prevention. Please join us as we take a moment of silence to remember and support all those lost and or affected by mental illness and suicide.”
Fundraising:
The AAF is a 501 (C)3 non-profit. 100% of donations are used for scholarships, training events, t-shirts/wristbands for fund raising.
AAF Address:
Alex Archie Foundation
PO Box 2436
Providence RI, 02906
Cell: Lisa Archie: (203) 577-9696 or Tom Archie: (203) 577-9331.
Email: alexarchiefoundation@gmail.com
Website: www.alexarchiefoundation.com
Donations: AAF accepts cash, check (made to Alex Archie Foundation), Venmo, Paypal and Zelle.
Attached is a Venmo QR Code:
If you are interested in running a Mental Health Awareness game for your school, please contact Lisa or Tom Archie at: alexarchiefoundation@gmail.com