Twitch streamer, content creator, and esports consultant Byron “Reckful” Bernstein has passed away. To pay tribute to someone who had a remarkable impact on the WoW community, many players have taken to the servers to honor him. Reckful, who found most of his early success in the World of Warcraft scene, was 31 years of age at the time of his passing.
The news of Bernstein’s passing was confirmed by his roommate and ex-girlfriend. You only need to glance at Twitter be confronted with the outpouring of emotion this has brought to not only the WoW community, but the gaming community as a whole. This is evident at the sheer number of players that are uniting across multiple servers in World of Warcraft to salute, honor, and pay their respects to the loss of one of their own.
My server (which isn't an RP server AT ALL) right now. pic.twitter.com/wPv1PlWEVW
— MegamanTV #Blacklivesmatter (@MegamanTV) July 2, 2020
Suicide prevention resources
If you or anyone you know is considering suicide, there are resources available to get help and/or assistance. That also includes help for those seeking assistance on behalf of a family member or loved one.
On a personal note, as someone who has struggled damn near their entire lives managing clinical depression and anxiety — it sucks. I don’t know your personal struggle or your pain. But, there are people willing to listen, to advise, and to help you navigate the sometimes suffocating waters of mental illness. Marcus Parks, one of the podcast hosts of “Last Podcast on the Left” often talks about his own struggles with mental illness. He often states, “Mental health is not your fault, but, it’s your responsibility.”
Even though that fog of illness is hanging over you, things can get better. Please consider all of the options available to you as noted below:
- National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
- Locating a therapist in your region
- Resources for substance abuse and mental health disorders
- US resources for mental health
- Canadian mental health resources
