With mental health becoming an even greater issue as the days go by, video game companies like LKA.it have stepped in to try to make a difference, by offering to donate profits towards charitable initiatives. Now, Square Enix has joined the fight against the stigma, in order to try to help those who are dealing with issues like depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. They’ve done this through a partnership with the JED Foundation, which has been dubbed the Life is Strange: Before the Storm “Your Friend, Me” campaign.
How this works is that, for every video that fans make (using the hashtags #LifeisStrange and #Yourfriendme), Square Enix will donate $5 to the JED Foundation, up to a total of $25,000 American dollars. Now, that doesn’t mean that they want you to tag every video you make and upload like that. Instead, each tagged video should contain a personal message about an important friend who has helped the creator through his or her hardships, with the final sign-off being similar to the ending of a written letter.
For more information, check out the following press release:
Fans interested in participating in “Your Friend, Me,” and in turn, supporting mental health through the important work at JED, are encouraged to create and post short video messages that describe how a true friend has meaningfully impacted their life. Fans will sign off each video as if it were a letter to their friend, with “Your friend,” and then their name.
For every shared video that includes the #LifeisStrange and #YourFriendMe hashtags, Square Enix will donate $5 (up to $25,000) to JED. Each contribution will be used towards improving mental health and supporting suicide prevention efforts for teens and young adults nationwide.
To kick off the program and to help support National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, “Your Friend, Me” video stations will be set up at the Square Enix booth at GameStop 2017 Expo in Las Vegas. Some of these inspiring videos will be featured on the “Your Friend, Me” website. For official rules and additional details about LIFE IS STRANGE: BEFORE THE STORM “Your Friend, Me” visit: www.yourfriendme.com.
“We are grateful to Square Enix for helping to raise awareness for mental health and JED’s work,” said John MacPhee, CEO/Executive Director, JED. “We all encounter life’s challenges and support from friends can help us get through those difficult times. ‘Your Friend, Me’ is a wonderful way for people to share their story and express their genuine appreciation for a friend, all while spreading a positive message and helping to make a charitable contribution to JED.”
Life is Strange: Before the Storm will begin its episodic journey on August 31st.