Inclusive Minds: A Board Game for Mental Well-being and Social Inclusion
In a world that often rushes past individual stories, Inclusive Minds pauses to listen. Developed as part of the Erasmus+ project Inclusive Minds: Migrant Women’s Mental Health, this board game is more than just a tool for play - it’s a doorway to dialogue, reflection, and connection.
Rooted in the Wheel of Life methodology, the game is designed to support migrant women aged 40–60 in exploring everyday stressors through a creative, interactive experience. While tailored for this specific audience, the game’s themes - mental well-being, emotional resilience, and social connection - are universally relevant.
🌿 How It Works
At its core, Inclusive Minds is a cooperative game. Players face a series of fictional but relatable Stress cards, representing real-life challenges. In response, they select and play Mindfulness cards, which offer practical strategies, emotional insights, and personal coping tools.
As the game progresses, players are invited to share stories, thoughts, and reflections, creating a supportive atmosphere for conversation. Points are earned through collaboration, and the collective goal is to bring balance to the different domains of the Wheel of Life—such as social life, work, family, health, and spirituality.
💬 Why It Matters
During the needs assessment phase of the project, many women expressed that mental health was not their primary concern—often because their attention was focused on survival, financial security, or their families’ well-being. Yet, when given a safe, non-judgmental space, they opened up. They shared. They reflected.
That’s what Inclusive Minds offers: a safe and structured way to talk about things that are often left unspoken.
🧩 Game Components
✔️ A Wheel of Life game board
✔️ Stress cards – presenting everyday challenges
✔️ Mindfulness cards – offering coping strategies and support
✔️ Domain trackers & round tracker
✔️ Rulebook & Trainer's Guide
The game can be used in workshops, support groups, classrooms, or informal settings, and is particularly effective in multicultural environments or where language barriers may exist.
🌍 A Collaborative Effort
The game is the result of a cross-European collaboration between:
- 🇦🇹 Fremde werden Freunde (Austria – Coordinator)
- 🇬🇷 Dracon Rules Design Studio (Greece)
- 🇸🇪 IKF Malmö – Internationella Kvinnoföreningen (Sweden)
Together, the partners combined experience in social inclusion, education, game design, and mental health to create something truly unique.
🎯 The Bigger Picture
Funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, Inclusive Minds contributes to long-term efforts in:
- Promoting mental health and emotional literacy
- Strengthening community support networks
- Encouraging integration and empowerment of migrant women
Whether used by professionals or in peer groups, the game is a tool that fosters trust, empathy, and confidence—one card at a time.
📦 Want to learn more or get your hands on the game?
Visit: www.inclusive-minds.eu
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