4 Twitch Streamers Who Advocate For Mental Health
Mental health is an issue that affects people all across the planet, regardless of age or background. Unfortunately, it is still stigmatized and can be difficult to talk about openly. But things are changing. These days, even while scrolling Twitch, you can find streamers who are openly discussing mental health in their broadcasts, helping to normalize these conversations and provide support for those who need it. These four Twitch streamers are doing just that.
The creators listed below are all Twitch streamers who are passionate about mental health and are taking action to help those in need. In this blog post, we’ll discuss why their advocacy matters, and how you can support them. Let’s get started!
Twitch Streamers Who Advocate for Mental Health
HealthyGamer_GG
HealthyGamer_GG, more commonly known to his community as Dr. K, is a licensed psychiatrist using Twitch to spread awareness and advice about mental health. While the brand of “Healthy Gamer” has grown to encompass more than just Dr. K himself, you will still find him interviewing experts, discussing difficult topics, and breaching heavy subjects in the live streams on the channel. In addition to advocating for mental health in live streams, HealthyGamer offers coaching for issues like low self-worth, motivation, or confidence. While this is a larger creator with a bit more of a diversified platform than the other advocates on the list, I think the benefits of having a licensed mental health professional talk openly on Twitch is beneficial to the cause of spreading mental health awareness.
SheSnaps
SheSnaps, aka Snaps, is a creator taking an active approach to mental health advocacy on Twitch and other platforms. Through her live streams and Patreon, she is helping people to understand the importance of mental health and how to use mindfulness to manage it in a better way. She is kind, funny, and foul-mouthed — exactly my type of person.
On her Twitch channel, you will find active discussions about mental health and mindfulness, various guided meditations, and positive affirmations. Hop into any live stream and you’ll be greeted with warm welcomes and plenty of advice surrounding mental health. She discusses her own personal struggles and invites chat to join the conversation as well, prompting various discussions on coping mechanisms and how to build resilience when you’re struggling through difficult times. She will never shame you for being open and honest in her community and is happy to discuss sometimes “controversial” treatment methods, such as marijuana, in a non-judgmental and educational way.
As part of her ongoing mental health advocacy, Snaps has created an easy-to-remember self care acronym, SHADES, which reminds us all to prioritize ourselves and give our bodies and minds what we need:
Snaps is a great example of how one person can make a difference in the lives of many by spreading awareness about mental health issues and the benefits of mindfulness.
Mxiety
Mxiety is a mental health-focused creator who is pushing for mental health awareness and advocacy across the gaming industry and, of course, in our daily lives. She uses her platform to share her personal story and encourage others to take an active approach in their mental health journey. Her channel and other platforms provide a welcoming and safe space for people to talk openly about their experiences and get the positive push they need to seek professional help, if needed. Through her work, she also encourages other creators to cultivate safe spaces and advocate for mental health in their own communities.
While her Twitch channel is not as active as it once was, it is still a valuable resource filled with interviews with mental health advocates and experts, advice, and resources. On her YouTube channel, she takes an accessibility approach to gaming with her Beginner Game Reviews, which I LOVE! In these reviews, she plays through various types of games to determine just how easy it might be for a new player to pick it up. They are educational and extremely entertaining.
Beyond her online content, Mxiety opens her soul and shares her story in her book, Well That Explains It. A collection of personal stories following her mental health journey, this book is sure to be relatable for anyone struggling with mental health and make them feel and realize they are not alone.
Mxiety is an inspiration to myself and many others, her willingness to be open and honest about her experiences shows that it’s possible to live a full life despite struggling with mental illness.
GamerGloTV
It feels a bit strange to include myself in this list, I’m not going to lie. Next to these powerful and encouraging mental health creators, I know I have a long way to go. But advocacy and destigmatizing mental health are a huge part of my mission and why I do what I do. So, here we are. I began my mental health streamer journey after a particularly rough breakdown in 2018. After a month-long battle I almost didn’t win, I decided I never wanted anyone to feel the same way if I could help: thus commenced my rebrand to GamerGlo across the board.
Mental health is a common topic in my streams, albeit not the primary theme usually. On my Twitch channel, I strive to create a warm and inviting environment for anyone to come in and feel at home (so long as they aren’t turned off by my uncontrollable screaming. Sorry.) I play a variety of games and chat about my life, and of course, never shy away from a discussion about mental health. On my YouTube channel, mental health becomes a bit more prominent. I post self care reviews of video games, breaking down whether I think particular games are good for self care, and I share how I use organization and routines to take control of my mental health.
Why It Matters
Why does this all matter, anyway? Who cares if a handful of people are talking about mental health on a site made for gamers?
Well that’s exactly it, isn’t it?
Mental health affects everyone. Even if you aren’t directly struggling with your own mental health right now, you still have mental health. And there are more than likely many people around you who are silently fighting. Mental health is an important topic that needs to be discussed more openly and honestly, and these creators are opening the door to make people more comfortable doing just that.
Mental health advocacy reduces the stigma and approaches the topic in a way that makes it more universally accepted to discuss it. The more we talk about it, the more people realize they are not alone, and the more we can encourage everyone to get the help they need and deserve.
Wrap Up – Twitch Streamers Who Advocate For Mental Health
Luckily, these days talking about mental health is becoming easier and more accepted than ever before in our modern world. These creators are a part of the revolution to destigmatize mental health and help make everyone feel safer and more comfortable breaching the subject.
Every day, there are creators using their platforms to advocate for mental health awareness. From speaking openly about their own struggles to hosting fundraisers and providing resources, these streamers are helping to break down the negative connotation of mental illness and provide support for those who need it. If you’re struggling with your mental health, I hope you’ve been inspired to check out one of these amazing creators, or maybe you too are going to go out there and advocate for mental health. Together we break the stigma.
This is of course not a complete list of the streamers and other creators out there who are advocating for mental health. I would LOVE for you to share your favorite mental health streamers in the comments, or send them my way on Twitter!