Local gamers ‘duking it out’ at Warhammer tournament for men’s mental health

An area gaming group battled it out on the tabletops Saturday to lift cash for males’s psychological well being.

The 40 Hours of 40K Canada fundraiser introduced collectively avid gamers, navy members, miniature painters and hobbyists for nearly two straight days of Warhammer 40,000.

Warhammer is a miniature tabletop wargame performed around the globe.

The cash raised will go to Heads Up Guys, a corporation supporting psychological well being consciousness and suicide prevention for males.

The Psychological Well being Fee of Canada reported in 2022 that males make up 75 per cent of annual estimated suicide deaths in Canada.

In line with the fee, contributing components embody adhering to conventional masculine norms, lowered psychological well being literacy and a decrease probability to hunt assist.

“Guys do not speak. We’re speculated to be powerful and stoic,” Brad Newell, founding father of Heads Up Guys, stated. “We predict we’re the one ones which are weak once we’re not.”

Newell stated his group provides sources, data and a free melancholy screening instrument for males.

“Each man ought to do it,” Newell stated.

Jan-Philip Lacasse, a navy veteran and organizer of 40 Hours of 40K Canada, stated it is vital to lift consciousness round males’s psychological well being as a result of so many males do not speak about it.

“With my military background, I’ve misplaced so many buddies to suicide,” he stated. “I met loads of guys that had been struggling very a lot with psychological well being.”

Lacasse was medically discharged from the navy in 2019. He stated portray Warhammer miniatures (and remedy) have helped him handle his psychological well being.

40 Hours of 40K Canada organizer Jan-Philip Lacasse stated portray Warhammer miniatures helped him together with his psychological well being after he was medically discharged from the navy in 2019. (Galan McDougall/CTV Information Edmonton)He created 40 Hours of 40K Canada after volunteering at an analogous Warhammer fundraiser for males’s psychological well being in the UK.

Friday evening, the marathon kicked off at Industrial Park Video games.

Round 50 rivals had been anticipated to play in a round-robin over the weekend.

Not like a conventional Warhammer match, the winner will not stroll away with any award or accolades. Nevertheless, Lacasse stated that did not dampen spirits.

“Our purpose is basically to concentrate on elevating consciousness to males’s psychological well being and suicide prevention,” he added. “The fellows are duking it out, nevertheless it’s very gentlemanly.”

Saturday night, the group had raised practically $7,000 of a $10,000 purpose.

The competitors wraps up Sunday at 11 a.m.

For extra data on the occasion or to donate, click on right here

With information from CTV Information Edmonton’s Jessica Robb