Take This, IGDA, and IGDAF Statement on Recent Events

Video Game organizations seek to create safer, more inclusive environments

SEATTLE, WA – September 4, 2019 — In this past week, many traumatic events have both been brought to light and have occurred within the game industry. The tragic nature of these events compels us to take action and to offer immediate support to those who are directly affected.

For those who are suffering:

We want to make sure the community is aware of the resources and tools available to those who are suffering.

The trauma and abuse that are currently news in the game community are horrific and can resurface memories and feelings which survivors of trauma prefer to leave in the past. It is important to acknowledge that these events and accounts can produce a wide variety of emotions and reactions. It can be very difficult to reconcile conflicting emotions without reacting strongly or quickly. These feelings are normal.

Harassment of any kind is terrifying and has very real consequences. These consequences can manifest differently for every person and can range from short-term discomfort to debilitating long-term trauma.

Suicide is tragic and traumatic for those left behind. It is estimated that every suicide affects about 135 people – and everyone’s grief is very real.

It is also important to understand that suicide is not caused by a single event or traceable to a single cause. It is the result of an accumulation of factors, often very complex.

It is important to reiterate that everyone deserves help and safety, no matter what.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, in need of immediate intervention, and based in the US, please visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call 1-800-273-8255. You can also text AFK to 741741 in the US. 

Additional mental health resources, including resources for other countries, can be found on Take This’ website, and we also suggest reaching out to Rise Above the Disorder, which helps people in games access free mental health care.

For tips about how to talk about mental health in a way that is validating and supportive, please see the Take This FAQ on How to Talk About Mental Health.

Moving Forward

Take This, the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), and the International Game Developers Association Foundation (IGDAF) are working together on recommendations and next steps that will make our industry and games, in general, safer for all groups of people. We have invited experts and stakeholders to inform our approach, and we invite those who are passionate about these subjects to reach out to us to participate in this important discussion. We are working towards a day where anyone may play video games and pursue their game development dreams without fear of harassment and persecution.

There is no place in games or game-related spaces for harassment, whether online or in person. Everyone deserves to feel safe enjoying video games and pursuing their passions. It is imperative that we come together to create safer, more inclusive environments that can be enjoyed by the billions of gamers from all backgrounds.

About Take This

The mission of Take This is to decrease the stigma, and increase the support for, mental health within the game industry and the game enthusiast community. Our Vision is a game community that welcomes and supports people experiencing mental health challenges, and that recognizes the humanity and mental health of game creators. We combine clinical best practice with a love of all things gamer, providing a safe, accepting space for gamers and game developers.

Take This runs AFK Rooms at game industry conventions and tradeshows, publishes research on mental health in the game industry and in games, provides training and consulting to game companies, and works with Take This Streaming Ambassadors who amplify Take This’ campaign against the stigma, hopelessness, and isolation commonly found when dealing with or discussing mental health issues in the game community.

About the International Game Developers Association (IGDA)

The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) is the world’s largest nonprofit membership organization serving all individuals who create games.

The IGDA is a U.S.-based 501(c)6 non-profit professional association and a global network of collaborative projects and communities of individuals from all fields of game development. The IGDA’s diverse membership encompasses programmers and producers, designers and artists, writers, business people, QA team members, localization experts, and anyone else who participates in the game development process.

The mission of the IGDA is to support and empower game developers around the world in achieving fulfilling and sustainable careers.

For more info, please visit www.igda.org.

About the IGDA Foundation (IGDAF)

The IGDA Foundation advances a diverse workforce and ecosystem for the video game industry to better reflect the millions of passionate players enjoying video games worldwide.

The IGDAF focuses on promoting a game development community representative of, and welcoming and inclusive to, every person who wants to make games. The IGDAF garners support for diversity and inclusion in the video game industry with initiatives such as its IGDA Scholars, Velocity and Next Gen Leaders programs, with others in the pipeline.

The IGDA Foundation is a public charity, registered as a 501(c)3 organization in the United States.

To find out more about the IGDA Foundation’s initiatives visit http://igdafoundation.org.

Media Contacts

Lena LeRay / Robert Brown

Stride PR for IGDA

press@igda.org