Mental Health Guide for Community Managers

Key insights

6 takeaways

01
The guide states that burnout is all too prevalent in the games industry, and that many Community Managers feel doing a good job means being available 24/7.See it on page 4
02
The document says that practising mindfulness is proven to reduce stress, and recommends building it into a daily routine.See it on page 6
03
Regular sleep, a healthy diet and regular movement are stated to positively impact cognitive function and overall wellbeing.See it on page 7
04
The guide recommends identifying one's personal stress signature so that stress can be caught earlier and support sought sooner.See it on page 7
05
The document suggests reframing mistakes by asking what one did well or what can be learned, rather than what went wrong.See it on page 5
06
The guide suggests scheduling things in advance if you find it difficult to make time for relationships.See it on page 6

Summary

A toolkit from Safe In Our World offers guidance for Community Managers on maintaining their wellbeing. It opens by noting that community management can feel full-time, with CMs forever online, engaged, and visible within their communities. The guide is organised into ten sections covering boundaries, training, psychological safety, balance, self-awareness, imperfection, connection, mindfulness, self-care, and warning signs. Its advice includes learning to say no, seeking development opportunities, and recognising personal stress signals.

On workload, the document states that burnout is prevalent in the games industry and that many CMs feel doing a good job means being available 24/7. It advises CMs to watch for signs that their workload is becoming too much, and to look out for these signs in colleagues too. On mindfulness, it says the practice is proven to reduce stress, and that rest is productive even when there seems to be no time for a break.

The guide also addresses self-care. It states that regular sleep, a healthy diet and regular movement positively affect cognitive function and overall wellbeing. It recommends identifying one's personal stress signature so that stress can be caught earlier, and discussing mental health regularly to reduce stigma.