For the third anniversary of Friend/Ships, we’re partnering with Seize the Awkward to help encourage friends to reach out and start the conversation about mental health, particularly if a friend is struggling or going through a tough time.

Seize the Awkward is a national campaign created by the Ad Council, The Jed Foundation (JED), and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to promote mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Since 76% of young adults turn to a peer in a time of crisis, Seize the Awkward encourages young adults to check in with a friend who might be struggling and start a conversation around mental health.

Creators like Billie Eilish, Markiplier, Liza Koshy, and Noah Cyrus are telling their stories about supportive friendships, and we want to hear yours, too! Seize the awkward and tell us about a time you’ve helped a friend in need, or a friend has helped you.

You can share your story as a text post, include screenshots, or even capture it on video—it’s up to you! Tag your stories with #GW2FriendShips and #SeizetheAwkward on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook, and we’ll collect them on a special page on the official Guild Wars 2 website for the whole community to read.

(If you’re using Facebook, please share your story as a new post on our official Facebook page and not as a reply to any of our posts. We don’t want to miss it!)

To learn more about the campaign and explore resources that can help start a conversation with a peer about mental health, visit SeizeTheAwkward.org and @SeizeTheAwkward on Instagram. To get immediate, free support 24/7, call 1-800-273-8254 or text “SEIZE” to 741741.

Friends Forever in Tyria Contest—Your Own NPC

Add the #GW2Giveaway hashtag to your story as well, and your qualifying post will be entered in our sweepstakes. We’ve got great prizes to give away: twenty winners will receive 800 gems, five winners will receive a custom art commission from our creative partners, and for one grand prize winner we’ll create open-world in-game characters inspired by you and your friend.

For more details, please see the official rules and regulations.

Show Your Support in Guild Wars 2

Log in to Guild Wars 2 throughout the month of February and pick up your free Seize the Awkward Clothing Outfit from the Black Lion Trading Company. Wear it to show your support!