Session Name: | Depression-Proof Studio Culture: A How-To for Mental Wellness |
Speaker(s): | Russ Pitts, Mike Wilson, Alex Austin |
Company Name(s): | Take This, Inc., Devolver & Gambitious, Cryptic Sea |
Track / Format: | Advocacy |
Overview: |
One in four employed adults in America suffer from symptoms of mental illness, and there's reason to believe that figure is higher in the games industry. Emotional issues accelerate burnout and drain productivity. Depression alone accounts for over 200 lost workdays a year, at a cost of billions of dollars in productivity. Game studio culture can accelerate or exacerbate symptoms of mental illness, and many emotional ailments can worsen in the workplace, resulting in tragic outcomes if left unaddressed. This 1-hour lecture will offer simple, effective advice on how too destigmatize mental health issues in your studio; help yourself and others create a positive work experience; effectively reach to those who may be suffering silently, and create a culture with a positive resistance to emotional suffering. |