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Take This Is Assisting Those In Need At PAX East
Going to a convention like PAX can be pretty daunting for those suffering from anxiety. Since fall 2013, Take This has been working with PAX to identify ways they can assist those in need.
Take This is a charitable organization founded by Russ Pitts and Susan Arendt that seeks to “increase awareness, education and empathy for those suffering from emotional issues, their families and greater institutions with the goal to eradicate the stigma of mental illness,” according to its site’s about page.
Take This announced the Take This AFK Room today for PAX East that will be a space for attendees to take a break if they’re anxious or feeling overwhelmed. The room will be staffed with mental health care clinicians and volunteers who have been certified by Take This. The room can also assist those with questions about mental health, and can provide information and resources that can help people address emotional issues.
Its panel will also be making a return to PAX East on April 11 in the Arachnid Theater at 12:30 p.m. ET. The panel – titled “But I’m Not Crazy!” – will talk about stigmas related to mental illness and provide tools for helping others. The panel will be moderated by Pitts, Arendt, and vice president of Take This Mark Kline Psy.D. Sean Baptiste of Firehouse Games and Mitch Dyer of IGN will also speak at the panel.
Take This has also helped create a curriculum to aid PAX volunteers, known as enforcers, and are providing counseling for them to help insure that those with emotional needs receive the help that they need. PAX East 2014 will be held April 11-13 in the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.
The Take This organization was founded following the tragic suicide of a creative colleague. You can learn more about Take This on its website.
Our Take
It's great to see that those who need help will be able to get information and have a space at PAX East.
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