As part of the Don't Fight Alone initiative, we partner with different organizations that help others through gameplay. The Australian nonprofit genU reached out to ask if we'd be interested in supporting their GAMER program. As avid Arma fans, they believed that the game could be hugely beneficial to their clients.
Find out why in their guest article below.
At genU, we believe in building inclusive communities and creating opportunities for people to thrive - especially when it comes to mental health and wellbeing. Enter GAMER: a unique program that harnesses the power of video games, board games and RPGs to support people on their mental health journey.
Since launching in 2018, GAMER has grown from a small, local initiative into a statewide program supporting nearly 500 people every week. And while GAMER isn’t a therapy program, it does something just as powerful: it creates a safe, affirming space where people can connect, express themselves, and build life skills through play.
And yes, that includes diving deep into the Arma universe.
So, What Is GAMER?
GAMER is all about community, connection and personal growth. Created by gamers, for gamers, the program invites clients into a supportive environment where they can explore their passions, and grow through them.
Through games, participants can:
• Make new friends
• Strengthen their confidence and communication skills
• Practice teamwork and problem-solving
• Enjoy time doing something they love.
Whether you're into farming sims, tabletop RPGs or tactical FPS games like Arma Reforger, GAMER proves that gaming can be a life-enhancing, even life-changing, experience.
The science of social play
Why gaming? Because social engagement is crucial for mental health.
Research consistently shows that community integration and meaningful relationships help people build resilience and recover from mental health challenges. And what better way to bring people together than through games that naturally encourage cooperation, creativity and shared experiences?
Especially after the isolation of the pandemic, programs like GAMER are helping people re-enter the world, one game session at a time.
How GAMER works: Encounter. Explore. Evolve.
GAMER uses a three-tiered approach to engagement, and Arma fits in perfectly.
Encounter – meet ideas, meet people
Arma is more than just a game - it's a world of diverse communities. Whether players are chilling in a relaxed milsim unit, role-playing humanitarian scenarios, or hanging out with friends without ever firing a shot, Arma creates space for connection. GAMER taps into that by helping participants form social bonds and discover new interests.
Explore – learn by doing
New to Arma? Perfect. The game’s steep learning curve becomes a chance to build teamwork, leadership, and communication skills. From navigating maps to coordinating in multiplayer missions, participants grow by working through challenges together. It’s about overcoming, not just in-game obstacles, but personal ones too.
Evolve – skills that go beyond the game
Arma’s powerful modding tools are a perfect match for GAMER’s goal of helping clients’ level up in life. Modding teaches coding, game design, and creative thinking - real-world skills that can lead to jobs in the gaming industry. Just look at how DayZ evolved from an Arma 2 mod into a global phenomenon!
Games can be the solution
At GAMER, we believe that video games can be part of the solution, not the problem. In a world that often feels divided, games give us common ground. They connect us, challenge us, and teach us.
So, here’s to making friends, not fights. To building community, not conflict, and to games just like Arma, that help us grow stronger together.
Want to learn more about GAMER or genU?
Visit www.genu.org.au to find out how we’re using creativity and connection to build a more inclusive future. You can also support genU by donating, with all reinvested back into enhancing programs.
