Albany State University and Active Minds Chapter student leader guides players through A.S.K.—Acknowledge, Support, Keep-in-Touch—to help youth and young adults support friends through difficult moments.
Washington, DC (November 9, 2026) — Active Minds, the nation’s leading nonprofit mobilizing youth and young adults to change the culture around mental health so that it is valued and prioritized in society is bringing its A.S.K. peer support framework to World Reborn, a mobile game developed by Wicked Saints Studios. Through the #ASKbetter challenge, youth and young adults can learn practical ways to support their friends, guided by a student leader from the Active Minds Chapter Network.
The collaboration features Kobe Garner, vice president of the Active Minds chapter at Albany State University, an Historically Black College/University (HBCU) in Georgia. Garner appears in the game to share his story, his experience with Active Minds and introduce players to A.S.K.—Acknowledge, Support, Keep-in-Touch—and encourage them to carry those skills into conversations with friends and family.
“We are proud to partner with Wicked Saints Studios for the #ASKbetter challenge on World Reborn,” said Kimberly Cooper, Chief Marketing Officer at Active Minds. “Opening up about mental health breaks down stigma, yet 70% of students say they don’t know how to help a friend. Active Minds brings our expertise in peer support to this collaboration with this gamified approach to teach participants A.S.K.—Acknowledge, Support, Keep in Touch. Together, we’re helping youth and young adults carry these practical skills into everyday conversations so more friends feel heard and supported.”
Introduced on World Mental Health Day, October 10, the challenge connects Active Minds’ expertise in informal peer support with World Reborn’s blend of fantasy storytelling and real-world action. Players commit to supporting someone in their lives using A.S.K., create a sign to remind themselves of that commitment, and share their commitment through the #ASKbetter challenge.
Developed by Active Minds and SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios in collaboration with young people, A.S.K. offers three steps for navigating supportive conversations:
- Acknowledge: Give someone your attention and recognize that their feelings and experiences are valid.
- Support: Listen, ask what they need, and help them explore support or resources.
- Keep-in-Touch: Check back in regularly to show that you care.
Garner’s involvement brings the experience of a campus mental health advocate into the game, demonstrating how youth and young adults can help others feel heard and connected.
“You never know what somebody’s going through, and the happiest person in the room can be the saddest person out,” Garner said. “If you don’t ask, you’ll never know. I try to ask and to be that supportive role. Cause shoot, I used to want that.”
The collaboration extends opportunities to encounter and practice A.S.K. beyond campus settings. By featuring a chapter leader as a guide, it also highlights the role young people play in shaping mental health conversations within their communities.
Wicked Saints Studios developed World Reborn to connect interactive storytelling with actions players can take in their everyday lives.
People interested in joining the #ASKbetter challenge can download the game free on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. A trailer for the game can be seen on YouTube.
To learn A.S.K. and explore resources for supporting a friend, visit activeminds.org/programs/ask.
