Welcome to Our Table.
Operation Tabletop is a non-profit charity organization focused on preventing veteran suicide by providing a safe and accessible space to connect with each other through tabletop games such as Dungeons and Dragons. But what does that actually mean? It means we know what you’re going through, and it means we care.
Operation Tabletop was founded by a close-knit group of friends who shared two things: a love of tabletop games and a passion for positive mental health. All of us have either struggled with mental health issues or know someone who has. We found that our weekly game nights helped us stay connected to each other and had an overall positive impact on our mental health. Seth Ewing, the mastermind behind the organization, wanted to take what we had and share that experience with others.
You would be hard-pressed to find a veteran who hasn’t dealt with mental health problems in some form or doesn’t know someone who has. Whether it be PTSD, depression, anxiety, or any other condition. The long hours and constant pressure of military service are enough to bring down anyone’s mental fortitude.
What Operation Tabletop aims to achieve is to provide service members, veterans, and their families with a place to connect with one another in an effort to prevent feelings of isolation. Extended periods of isolation are bad for mental health and can lead to depression or anxiety and can worsen symptoms in those who already suffer from those conditions. We offer a place to simply get together, make connections, and just have a good time. We also aim to bring awareness to mental health issues and point people in the right direction if they are seeking help.
Playing tabletop games is also just a good time. Other than helping you connect with other people; tabletop games give you a temporary escape from your day-to-day stressors. For just a few hours, you don’t have to be worried about your bills, your work schedule, or anything else that’s keeping you down. Instead you can be an adventurer protecting the weak and going on epic quests to save a fantasy world.
But why do we do this? I mentioned earlier that the founding members of Operation Tabletop have all struggled with these conditions. I myself went through a very dark time near the end of my military career that led me to self-isolate and have thoughts of ending my life. The other founders also have their own stories of going through dark times or know someone that has. We don’t want anyone else to ever feel like they are alone. When Seth brought us the idea for Operation Tabletop, we were on board immediately.
Sadly, many veterans suffer from depression and too many of them end their own lives because they feel isolated. We are doing everything in our power at Operation Tabletop to bring that number down by simply being there, but we are not claiming to be a substitute to seeking professional help. If you need help you should always reach out to professionals. We offer a list of resources to guide you in the right direction if you need help.
