Riot Games, the developer and publisher of the world’s biggest PC game, League of Legends, is partnering with headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation, Le Va and the Child Abuse Prevention Service to present Recall and Restore – a program to promote mental health awareness and healthy gaming habits for players within the League of Legends community.

Launching on Monday 16th March 2020, Recall and Restore will culminate in Round 8 of the Oceanic Pro League (OPL) live stream taking place from 4pm AEDT on the 20th and 21st March 2020. Over the weekend headspace will join the OPL team to talk about bullying as part of the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence on Friday 20th March 2020, and a more holistic focus on mental health on Saturday 21st March 2020.

Gaming is a major part of daily life for the majority of the population, with over 80% of Australians and New Zealanders playing video games (IGEA) and 97% of households with children playing computer games.

Simon Dodd, National Clinical Advisor at headspace said “each year one in four young people will experience a mental health issue, this partnership allows headspace to engage through a different channel to promote positive mental health within the gaming community. Gaming can be a positive and enjoyable pastime, but like everything in life, it’s important to create a healthy balance doing things such as spending time with family and friends, and getting enough sleep.”

“Working with Riot Games via Recall and Restore, we’re asking young people to check in on their mental health and notice where they might need to make some changes to create a positive wellbeing.”

The headspace website provides a number of gaming specific resources that promote a positive gaming experience and how to maintain a healthy headspace.

Denise Kingi-Uluave, CEO at Le Va said “gamers are aware of the need to balance gaming and other things in their lives – sometimes they just need some guidance and support on how to do that. Le Va’s Mental Wealth programme and Mana Restore website is one resource that can help with this.”

This is the third consecutive year of Recall and Restore, and marks the commitment that Riot Games, headspace, Le Va and the Child Abuse Prevention Service (CAPS), a new partner in 2020, make in promoting the importance of mental health awareness among young people.

Tracy McLeod Howe, CEO of CAPS, stated that “CAPS is excited to partner with Riot Games on this very important initiative. Young people should be empowered with the resources they need to support their own mental health. We also recognise the need to tackle bullying in gaming and look forward to providing whatever help we can to keep young people safe online”.

Ivan Davies, Community and Social Play Lead, Riot Games Oceania said about the Recall and Restore program, “League of Legends players in Oceania have told us that they care deeply about mental health and wellbeing, Recall and Restore enables us to not only create a platform to talk about mental health with some incredible partners, but to also provide connection and support to players through a shared and meaningful experience within and around esports.”

The OPL broadcast can be viewed at their Official Twitch Channel on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st March 2020 from 4pm AEDT.

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National Youth Mental Health Organisation, headspace, is thrilled to be joining with Riot Games for ‘Recall and Restore’ – Round 9 of the Oceanic Pro League (OPL) focusing on youth mental health.

headspace and Riot Games are joining forces during this OPL Round to raise awareness of youth mental health. The collaboration will provide the League of Legends community with tips and advice on how they can maintain a healthy mind and also help to support youth mental health across Australia.

As businesses committed to improving the mental health and wellbeing of young people, headspace and Riot Games will also have online mental health resources for League of Legends players.
headspace CEO, Jason Trethowan, said the collaboration with Riot Games will undoubtedly help the League of Legends community learn valuable self-help skills to maintain good mental health and wellbeing.

“For many young people, recognising what good physical health looks like is easy. It can be much harder for them to reflect on their mental health,” Mr Trethowan said. “There are a number of easy self-help techniques and strategies that can be incorporated into a young person’s day-to-day life that can make a significant impact to how they’re feeling.”

Riot Games Oceania Country Manager, Daniel Ringland, said when the 2018 headspace round launched, Riot were inspired to see so many in the community engage in open and supportive dialogue around mental health. “This year, Recall and Restore will support players, friends and family with tools, tips and information on how to maintain a healthy headspace. It is important that we all continue to destigmatise the mental health challenges that many of us face and spread the message that it’s ok to ask for help and that help is available,” he said.

‘Recall and Restore’ culminates in Round 9 of the OPL on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 March, 2019 at 4pm AEDT.

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Riot Games Oceania and headspace are proud to announce that round 6 of the OPL (Oceanic Pro League), will be the ‘headspace round’.
headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation in Australia, dedicated to improving the mental health and wellbeing of young Australians aged 12-25, as well as providing support to their families and friends.

A 2017 League of Legends player research study showed that the number one value for Oceanic players is good mental health and wellbeing. The goal of this collaboration is to raise awareness of the tips and advice available on how to maintain a healthy mind, as well as letting young people know there is help available in-person, online or by phone through headspace.

The support services provided to young people span across four core areas: mental health, physical health, alcohol and other drugs, and work and study support.

“With the OPL we have an opportunity to provide our players and viewers with information from headspace that can make a real difference to their lives, and those closest to them,” said Riot Head of eSports, Daniel Ringland.
“The OPL broadcast is a great avenue for headspace to share advice and resources that can support young players and eSports fans across Australia.” headspace CEO Jason Trethowan said the collaboration with Riot Games will undoubtedly help the League of Legends community learn valuable self-help skills to maintain good mental health and wellbeing. “For many young people, recognising what good physical health looks like is easy. It can be much harder for them to reflect on their mental health,” Mr Trethowan said. “There are a number of easy self-help techniques and strategies that can be incorporated into a young person’s day-to-day life that will make a significant impact to how they’re feeling.” headspace has 101 centres across Australia, as well as an online and phone support service eheadspace.

The OPL headspace round takes place: Friday 23rd of February 2018 at 5pm AEDT, Saturday the 24th of February 2018 at 2pm AEDT & Sunday 25th of February 2018 at 2pm AEDT. The broadcast can be viewed on Twitch.TV, Youtube or Twitter.

For more information on the OPL and the headspace round can be found HERE.

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