The 10th of October of every year is recognised by the World Health Organisation as World Mental Health Day. The day is dedicated to raising the awareness of all forms of mental illness, and this year focuses on mental health in the workplace.
As part of this, developer Ninja Theory will be donating all the proceeds from sales of Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice on the 10th to UK-based charity Rethink. Mental health is a vital part of the story in Hellblade as protagonist Senua battles with psychosis.
Ninja Theory are clearly aware of how their award-winning title can impact those who suffer from a mental illness, even having a section of their website dedicated to mental health support.
Included in the announcement was a new trailer, but instead of promoting features or gameplay, it simply shows stills from the game along with quotes received from fans about how the game has helped them with their mental illness. These messages are a true testament to how video games can transcend being a simple form of entertainment and can sometimes leave a lasting positive impact on a player.
So, if you’ve been waiting for an opportunity to pick up a copy of Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, tomorrow really is a perfect opportunity to do some good while treating yourself to an awesome game.