THINKERBELL brings esports community and Red Cross together to launch #BeatLoneliness
Feeling lonely? You’re not alone. In fact, more than one in four of all Australians report feeling lonely most or all of the time, and nearly all of us suffer from loneliness at various points in our lives. Loneliness isn’t just an upsetting or annoying feeling. It’s genuinely bad for your health.
Creative agency Thinkerbell has worked with Australian Red Cross to develop an idea that aims to raise awareness on the issue of loneliness, and it’s simply called, ‘Beat Loneliness‘.
Beat Loneliness encourages anyone who is a part of a sporting team (such as esports, roller derby, touch, AFL, Netball, etc.) to jump online, register a free sporting kit for their team, and rebrand their team to ‘Loneliness’. Then, every team that they go up against in a competition will be faced with the challenge of trying to ‘beat loneliness’.
Red Cross has formed an unlikely alliance with esports team, Legacy 
Esports, to develop this project. Legacy Esports was the first sporting team in Australia to rename themselves ‘Loneliness’, and is calling on any other sporting teams or gaming groups to do the same. The esports team played under the ‘Loneliness’ banner and were
livestreamed on Twitch.
Says Nathan ‘Cyrix’ Baxter, from Legacy’s Rocket League team: “Legacy Esports is an esports team**, and like any sporting team, one of the best things about it is being surrounded by like-minded people who you know will always have your back. The esports league we belong to has created a community that helps people feel more connected, and less lonely. We love the support from our fans too. No one should have to feel lonely, and we are extremely excited and proud to team up with Red Cross to help #beatloneliness.”
Says Judy Slatyer, CEO, Red Cross: “The friendships and sense of belonging felt in sporting and gaming communities is what makes this project so special. We want people to know loneliness doesn’t have to be a constant in their life.
“Your team, whether you’re a player or a fan, isn’t just a team, it’s also your support network. We are asking teams to join this campaign and play for a bigger cause this season. We’re widening the
playing field and encouraging everyone to help beat loneliness.”
Says Adam Ferrier, consumer psychologist, Thinkerbell: “#beatloneliness is a powerful idea as it helps ‘out’ the endemic issue of loneliness. Further, by teaming with Legacy Esports, Red Cross is helping to bust one of the biggest myths around loneliness that gaming culture, and social media in general are a significant cause of loneliness. In fact, often the very opposite is true. Many people claim that esports has been one of the vehicles that have actually helped them connect with others.”
The #beatloneliness project is open to anyone who wants to form a sporting team and help beat loneliness. It works
like this:
1. Go to www.beatloneliness.com.au
2. Register your team
3. Change your team name to ‘Loneliness’, and Red Cross will send your entire team free ‘Loneliness’ branded sporting kit.
4. Then every team you come up against in your league will be challenged to beat you,
that is to beat ‘Loneliness’.
5. Your participation will help to raise awareness around loneliness and by simply coming together, you’ll be helping to beat it.
14 Comments
Like this. Simple idea. Needs scale.
https://www.mamamia.com.au/married-for-marriage-equality/
“one of the biggest myths around loneliness that gaming culture, and social media in general are a significant cause of loneliness. In fact, often the very opposite is true.”
a completely original idea!
Like the idea. But what about when the renamed teams win – Lonliness wins
Who would want their team to be called ‘Loneliness’? This isn’t even close.
After the game they should all go to the pub and Drink Responsibly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGD3yg_lqC4
Whoever came up with this has clearly never experienced loneliness/social anxiety.
Lonely people don’t play in sports teams.
Lonely people envy people who are social enough to play in sports teams.
Nice try but personally, the only message I’m getting here is alienation with an absurdly limited reach.
As an eSports player I LOVE you going into the eSports world in a positive way – there are a lot of people with poor social skills who find respite and connections in gaming. Well done.
I assume you are advertising this initiative so people can hear about it?
Another confected and unworkable idea..
But how does this help to beat loneliness?
It seems to raise awareness then stop dead in its tracks.
Or am I missing something?
This is good. Simple value exchange. Free pretty cool shirts in return for supporting a cause. It’s good and I bet (with some support) it works.
Pegs!!
this is way too hard.