The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many of us to make changes to our daily routines and spend more time at home. Lockdowns have made it difficult to get our daily dose of exercise and social contact. But staying active and connected to our loved ones is more important than ever, especially for our physical and mental health.
People from around the world have turned to mobile games to maintain a positive outlook and cope with stress during the pandemic. In order to help inspire millions of players to lead an active lifestyle and look after their mental health, WHO has joined forces with Playrix, an online gaming company, to promote the WHO’s #HealthyAtHome challenge.
Spring 2021 saw the launch of the Yoga Season on the popular Gardenscapes game encouraging players to stay active, boost their energy and health by doing exercise and meditation.
In Fall 2021, WHO and Playrix collaborated on a new initiative for World Mental Health Day. The characters from Homescapes and Gardenscapes reminded players about the importance of taking care of their mental health by reducing stress, supporting loved ones, and fostering and maintaining social contacts.
“We’re thrilled to be participating in the WHO’s #HealthyAtHome challenge,” said Maxim Kirilenko, Chief Business Development Officer at Playrix. “Our games have feel-good storylines that help people from all over the globe take a break from the challenges of daily life and alarming headlines in the news. I’m sure Austin and our other characters will inspire millions of our players to take part in the #HealthyAtHome challenge.”
“We welcome efforts by the online gaming companies, such as Playrix, to encourage their large online communities to take the necessary steps for better health and well-being,” said Andy Pattison, Team Lead of Digital Channels at the World Health Organization. “We need to continue to reach people with lifesaving health messages where they are, in the palms of their hands.”
