Welcome to May,
Welcome to Mental Health Month,
Welcome to the Launch of EQJOY World
As May is Mental Health Month, we want to take a moment to highlight the mental health crisis impacting our children and remind ourselves of just how important it is to build emotional intelligence at an early age.
We also have super exciting news to share with you this month, as well as an invitation to a party. Enjoy this newsletter and we hope to see you at the party at the end of the month to celebrate the past, present and future success of EQJOY together.
With joy, gratitude and optimism,
Andrew
Shining a Light on Three Shocking Stats
and the Power of EQ to Change the Trajectory
The three statistics below show just how severe the crisis in children’s mental health is:
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1 in 7 adolescents globally (aged 10-19) experience a mental disorder (World Health Organization).
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1 in 5 children in the U.S. (approximately 10 million) experience mental health challenges each year (CDC).
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1 in 10 high school students (nearly 2 million) attempted suicide in 2021 (Healthy People 2030).
All these numbers are heart-wrenching, but it’s the third statistic—the one about suicide—that propels us to accelerate and expand our mission to empower children by building resilience through Emotional Intelligence (EQ).
Why EQ is Crucial for Children’s Development
Emotional Intelligence (EQ)—the ability to recognize, understand, manage, and express emotions—is foundational for children’s personal growth. Global research, along with EQJOY’s own findings, demonstrates the transformative effect of EQ on kids, helping them navigate emotions, enhance relationships, and build resilience.
Introducing EQJOY World:
A Game-Changer for 11+ Year Olds
After six months of development, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of EQJOY World! This emotional intelligence card game is designed for 11 to 17-year-olds, though as we like to say it’s suitable for anyone from 11 to 111 years old!
EQJOY World takes emotional learning to the next level by not only helping individuals recognize and understand emotions but also offering tools to regulate and transform them. It’s a fun game, as well as a powerful self-reflection / self-development tool.
The First Edition of EQJOY World includes:
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26 Emotion Cards and 8 Prompt Cards
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A 100-page Emotion Explorer Booklet
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An Extended Online Emotion Explorer Guide
Combined, the cards, booklet and expanded guide empower the development of Emotional Intelligence through the power of play and self-reflection.
The EQJOY World game and guide will launch at the end of May and will provide:
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Tips for using the cards in both fun and self-development contexts
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Techniques for recognizing emotions in yourself and others
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Strategies to manage and transmute emotions
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Self-reflection questions, fun facts, music playlists, and more.
EQJOY World takes emotional learning to the next level by not only helping individuals recognize and understand emotions but also offering tools to regulate and transform them. It’s a fun game, as well as a powerful self-reflection / self-development tool.
Building Stronger Minds Together: New Charity Partner Announcement
We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Creative Solutions, the mental health partner to Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada.
In the first instance Creative Solutions therapists and trainees will be using EQJOY Cards and Emotional Explorer Guides this summer with kids aged 8–13 to build their resilience and social skills!
“Our partnership with EQJOY gives my team a fresh, playful way to connect with kids about emotions and how emotions impact us day to day. Our staff who have tested out EQJOY already love how easy it is to use and how naturally it sparks conversation. My hope is that we can get EQJOY to as many kids and families as possible!”
Dr. Megan Freeman, Senior Mental Health Consultant at BGCSNV and Founder & Executive Director of Creative Solutions
We’re honored to support Creative Solutions’ important work in children’s mental health. Stay tuned for updates on this impactful partnership in the coming months.
You're Invited:
EQJOY World Launch Party
May 29, 8-9:30 PM EST / 5-6:30 PM PST
Join us in celebrating the launch of EQJOY World!
The event will kick off with Andrew Cannon, the creator of EQJOY World, and Dr. Megan Freeman, Executive Director of Creative Solutions, discussing how EQJOY World tackles the children’s mental health crisis.
We’ll also enjoy speeches from our partners, entertainment, and a fun interactive activity. While the event is free, donations will be gratefully accepted to support our mission.
How You Can Further Support Our Mission
We are deeply grateful for your ongoing support. As we prepare to launch EQJOY World, we’re focused on bringing the gift of emotional intelligence to as many pre-teens and teens as possible as quickly as possible. Here are some ways you can help us do just that:
Gift and Grab EQJOY
We’re offering you the chance to donate EQJOY card packs to children in need through our website, and at the same time receive packs of EQJOY cards to use yourself or to gift to others.
Shipping is currently available to mainland USA only — but watch this space for updates as we expand internationally.
Join the EQJOY Friends Program
We’ve launched a new EQJOY Friends Program with three donation levels. As a Friend, you’ll help distribute EQJOY cards to children in need and receive EQJOY cards for your personal use/to gift. Friends will be featured on our Gratitude Wall and receive monthly updates on how their donations are making an impact.
Become an EQJOY Champion
As an EQJOY Champion, you can make an even bigger impact. With six donation levels available, Champions will receive EQJOY cards and have their contributions highlighted on our Gratitude Wall. We offer champions a number of different co-branding opportunities.
Please Connect us with Other Nonprofits
Do you know any nonprofits, which work with children in need and which would like to receive free packs of EQJOY cards?
Or, do you know any nonprofit organizations which are looking to boost their fundraising efforts?
If your answer is YES to either of these questions, please encourage them to connect with us to learn how we can collaborate and support their mission.
