Guam continues to face high suicide rates, with youth and young adults most affected. Stigma, lack of awareness, and limited coping strategies contribute to the problem.

“Press Play! Con” provides a youth-focused platform to reach hundreds of students and young adults through pop-culture, anime, and gaming. This project connects student learning with urgent community needs in mental health awareness and suicide prevention. “Press Play! Con” Organizing Committee is in partnership with MAD Studio Productions, UP Media, Power 98, Micronesia Mall, Marianas eSports, Latte eSports, Alter Ego, Pantheon, and Guam Cosplay Collective.

Activity Instruction:
Team Leader, Roles, & Interests

• Event Team (Help with center courtyard activities)
• Quest Giver (You will be wearing a question mark headband, holding a scroll of quest activities for the guest. You will also give them the quest sheets if they accept the quest. You will act like NPCS like walking at walls, or skipping)
• NPC Booths (Help monitor displays and areas where people are not allowed to go to)
• NPC Boss (Help the Event Managers)
• NPC Interactive with an Organization or Club (in the interactive booths)
• NPC Camera Person (Follow live streamer throughout the day)
• NPC Photobooth Team (Man the booth/take pictures and give files to guests)
• NPC Photo Op (Help guests take pictures next to prop areas as well as making sure no one plays or damages the props)
• Compete in the Casual Cosplay Contest (must wear a costume)
• Participate in Minigame Activities (activities that are part of the program like Anime Trivia and Art Contest)
• Participate in Side Quests (do a series quests throughout the event)
• NPC Gaming (making sure guests sign in before playing the games; crowd control)
• NPC TCG (crowd control during TCG activities)
• Banner Makers
• NPC Save Point (monitor the area and crowd control)

Reflection Instruction:
• Share your experience with direct engagement with hundreds of youth & young
adults at “Press Play! Con.”

• Describe the types of awareness shared at the event.
• What are some ways to prevent suicide?
• What are some ways to help improve people’s mental health?

Remember not all reflections are essays. You can also work with your event coordinators to post an informational video from resources shared during the event. If you post make sure to close-out your service learning project by uploading your reflection to this website to receive your certificate.

Learning Standards/Objectives:
 

1

Health Education

HS.1.1 – Core Concepts

Students identify and explain warning signs, risk, and protective factors for suicide — understanding mental health as a key component of overall wellness.

 

2

Health Education

HS.2.3 – Analyzing Influences

Students analyze how family, peers, culture, and media influence attitudes toward mental health and help-seeking behaviors.

 

3

Health Education

HS.4.1 – Interpersonal Communication

Students practice intervention and active listening techniques, applying communication skills to support peers in crisis.

 

4

Health Education

HS.5.1 – Decision-Making Skills

Students learn decision-making strategies to respond appropriately when warning signs appear, promoting safe and informed choices.

 

5

Health Education

HS.7.1 – Self-Management Skills

Students demonstrate stress management, emotional regulation, and help-seeking behaviors to maintain personal mental health.

 

6

Health Education

HS.8.6 – Health Advocacy

Students advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention by creating and presenting posters, skits, and social media campaigns.

 

7

Language Arts / Reading

HS.LA.8.1 – Speaking and Listening

Students develop and deliver presentations and workshops at “Press Play! Con,” effectively sharing prevention messages with peers.

 

8

Fine Arts (Drama / Visual Arts)

HS.FA.2.1 – Communication through Creative Expression

Students use performance, art, or multimedia to express themes of hope, empathy, and resilience through creative outreach.

 

9

Educational Technology

HS.2 – Communication and Collaboration

Students use digital media (videos, posts, presentations) to collaborate, share awareness materials, and connect with audiences online.

 

10

Social Studies (Civics)

AG.4.17 – Civic Responsibility

Students engage in service-learning and advocacy as acts of civic responsibility, contributing to a safer, more compassionate community.

 

How These Standards Interconnect

• Health Standards (1–6) guide the core learning — understanding mental health, intervention, and advocacy.

• Language Arts & Fine Arts Standards (7–8) strengthen students’ ability to communicate and creatively express prevention messages.

• Educational Technology Standard (9) integrates digital platforms for outreach and awareness.

• Social Studies Standard (10) grounds the project in civic engagement and public service.
  
   

  Optional Cross-Curricular Extensions

• Science (Psychology & Biology): Brain chemistry and stress response understanding.

• Physical Education: Mind-body connection and coping through physical wellness.

• Math: Surveying and analyzing mental health awareness data from peers.

  Name: Francis Labrador

 Phone: Phone: (671) 727-1324

  Email: [email protected]

Organization/Agency/Business Name: [email protected] Mad Studio Productions