40 Hours of 40K for HeadsUpGuys
Supporting HeadsUpGuys and preventing suicide in men by bringing together military members, fans, hobbyists and competitive players for 40 hours of Warhammer 40K.
Project Description
HeadsUpGuys at UBC is the world’s leading men’s mental health resource. Their mission is to support men in their mental health struggles and prevent suicide, providing crucial resources and guidance.
40 Hours of 40K is an event dedicated to raising awareness of men’s mental health and suicide prevention and this year it will again raise funds for HeadsUpGuys. This gathering unites military members, fans, hobbyists and competitive players for a 40-hour marathon of Warhammer 40,000 (a tabletop game beloved by fans worldwide).
Players battle it out on tabletop for 40 hours, commanding various armies from Games Workshop’s renowned franchise, Warhammer 40K.
This year’s 40 Hours of 40K event, once again organized by military veteran Jan-Philip Lacasse, marks the second year of 40 Hours of 40K – Canada.
“With my army background, I’ve lost so many friends to suicide. I met a lot of guys that were struggling very much with mental health.” – Jan-Philip Lacasse
Last year’s gathering brought together 50 players and supporters for the weekend fundraiser. The event not only met but exceeded its goal of $10,000 by raising $13,000. This year, they are aiming even higher with a target of $12,000, hoping to surpass it and provide even more support for HeadsUpGuys!
Challenges and Impact of Your Support
In Canada, men account for 3 out of 4 suicide deaths, with suicide being the 2nd leading cause of death for men under the age of 50. This amounts to approximately 3,000 deaths per year, or roughly eight men dying per day, with untreated depression being the leading risk factor for suicide.
We know that with the right supports and treatments in place, suicide is preventable. We need to help men learn the symptoms of depression and remove barriers that prevent them from reaching out to friends, family and mental health professionals.
HeadsUpGuys is here to support men in their recovery from depression, reduce their risk of suicide and inspire them to live healthier lives.
About the Event
This event is organized by JP Lacasse, a Canadian Armed Forces veteran with 23 years of service. He is also the owner of Garviel Studio.
JP picked up the hobby of painting models for Warhammer 40K back in 2019, when he retired from the military, mostly to have a creative outlet and cope with mental health issues related to his service. It’s been a fantastic journey for him thus far!
After being involved as an artist with the 40 Hours of 40K – UK event for two years, JP traveled to Lincoln, UK, in September 2022 to meet with the team and present his idea of expansion. His idea was well received and 40 hours of 40K – Canada was born!
For this event artists from all over Canada and the United States will come together to paint a 2000 point army of Warhammer 40K models.
Artists are usually assigned a model set or two depending on their availability. Artists have roughly 6 months to complete their assigned models and send them back to Edmonton, where the event will be hosted over September 6-8, 2024.
About HeadsUpGuys
HeadsUpGuys is a research program of The University of British Columbia (UBC), operating under the leadership of Dr. John Ogrodniczuk, who is a Professor of Psychiatry and the Director of the Psychotherapy Program at UBC.
Our team of clinicians, researchers, and mental health advocates bring together their expertise and personal experiences to provide you with this unique resource.
HeadsUpGuys is located at UBC’s Vancouver Campus, on the traditional territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people. HeadsUpGuys is a global resource, with over 4,500,000 visits from countries around the world.
This project is now closed. If you would like to learn more or would like the opportunity to donate, please reach out to crowd.fund@ubc.ca.