
Teen mental health is at a crisis point: according to the CDC, 40% of high school students have felt persistently sad or hopeless. Wellness Play is a youth-led nonprofit 501(c)(3) that utilizes one of teenagers' most common pastimes, online games, to promote youth mental health while increasing gaming safety. We help families address excessive play, neglected schoolwork, and toxic behavior through healthy gaming schedules and positive conduct standards. We amplify the benefits, stress relief and connection, through cooperative sessions, tournaments, and educational workshops led by trained moderators. We now offer Generations Together Events, where teens invite parents, grandparents, and caregivers to play together. These events support teens’ well‑being while also helping adults build connection and reduce loneliness. We pair services with advocacy, championing youth and intergenerational mental health.
​OUR IMPACT
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Conducted 40+ mental health workshops & tournaments. 12 student-led international chapters
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Organizer of UN #YouthLead Dialog on intergenerational collaboration, sharing ideas with UN policymakers
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Launched intergenerational pilots at community and senior centers
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~80% of our participants (n=72) reported better mood or connection post-session
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​Open Letter to the Department of Health & Human Services. Featured in major news outlets
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Coalition advocacy for California youth mental health & safety bills AB 727 & AB 56 (signed into law on 10/10 & 10/13/2025)
​FEATURE EVENT
Generations Together Event: Join us on January 10, 2026 for a fun evening of Generations Together gaming where parents, grandparents, caretakers, and kids can team up and compete. Register now!​​​​​​
AWARDS & CERTIFICATES
- Certificate of Recognition awarded by California Senator Dave Cortese for visionary leadership in youth mental health​
- Commendation from San Jose Mayor, and Recognition by San Jose Councilmember for contributions to youth mental health and well-being
- Organizer of UN #YouthLead Dialog on intergenerational collaboration; submitted outcomes to share ideas with UN policymakers
- Member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
- NYT Summer Reading Contest Award on teen smart phones and mental health
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​WELLNESS PLAY NEWS
AP News, MORNINGSTAR, ABC 27, FOX 8, Yahoo Finance
Wellness Play's Open Letter to U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services
​August 4, 2025. Wellness Play President Max Nguyen has issued an Open Letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. urging him to take action to support youth mental health.

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Wellness Play at the U.N. 2025
Wellness Play President Attends 2025 United Nations Session
​Feb 5, 2025. Wellness Play President Max Nguyen is attending the 2025 Partnership Forum of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to advance intergenerational mental health as a pillar of the U.N.’s Global Health & Well-Being goals.


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Wellness Play at the U.N. 2024
Wellness Play Participated in 2024 United Nations Session
​Jan 30, 2024. Wellness Play is taking part in the 2024 Partnership Forum of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) at UN Headquarters in New York, spotlighting the importance of youth mental-health awareness in global development.
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Wellness Play & Active minds
​Wellness Play Adopts Active Minds' “Nine Dimensions of Wellness” Framework
April 18, 2023. Wellness Play has integrated Active Minds’ Nine Dimensions of Wellness model into its youth programs and training resources. By adopting this holistic model, Wellness Play equips students and families to see mental health not as a single challenge but as an interconnected ecosystem of well-being.

TESTIMONIALS
“Wellness Play turned my anxiety into laughter. I’ve found friends and a new reason to smile.” — 9th-grade participant
“Playing side-by-side in the co-op tournament brought my son and me closer than ever. We laughed, talked, and finally broke through his teenage silence.” — Mother of an 11th-grade participant
“It was amazing to team up with my dad during the games; now we spend quality time every weekend gaming together, within healthy time limits.” — 10th-grader


