You’ve signed up to Behind the Mask. Great choice. This event toolkit breaks down your next steps. From raising life-saving cash to sharing your story, spreading the word, signposting support and finding inspiration, everything you need to help prevent suicide with your channel is right here.
Grab the asset pack below, then scroll down for everything else.
Set up your Behind the Mask fundraising page on Tiltify in minutes.
Add your story, set your goal, and get that £12.20 donation ask front and centre.
In our asset pack you'll find some wonderful custom CALM assets for your model. There are live2d and PNG versions so no matter your style you can rock the CALM look through the week. In here you'll find;
The art and rigging was kindly made by SinbadStardust on behalf of CALM, who's also put together a video tutorial on loading the assets to make the setup super straightforward.
Let your community donate to call the shots. Poll them on your next game, collab or dare if they cough up life-saving funds.
Tiltify makes it easy to add donation polls right to your page.
Chuck in a little incentive for people to donate. Signed merch, free membership, bonus content, a personal shout-out for top donors.
Because who doesn't love a giveaway?
Got something special that your listeners would go big for? Auction it for donations. Old props, secret reference sheets, bonus content - anything to get fans digging deep.
Nothing is too weird if it raises money. Well, almost nothing.
Mention your support throughout the week whenever and however you'd like.
If you're struggling to find the words here's a simple and direct option:
“During Mental Health Awareness Week, I'm taking part in Behind the Mask, a week-long event for the suicide prevention charity Campaign Against Living Miserably. We’re using the power of Vtubing to raise money for CALM’s life-saving services, needed now more than ever, and to help people find ways to Stay. If you can, £12.20 is the cost of answering a potentially life-saving call that could help someone find the reason to STAY. Check out my fundraising page in the description.”
Shout out whatever else you're doing to get the donations rolling in, from giveaways to donation polls, channel revenue or a direct donation.
You’re doing an incredible thing by fundraising for CALM. But there are a few important rules to follow to keep everything above board.
If you’re raising money in CALM’s name, it’s your responsibility to stick to the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Fundraising Practice and CALM’s fundraising terms and conditions. It’s all about making sure fundraising is safe, legal, and respectful for you, for CALM, and the people who donate.
Read CALM’s full fundraising terms and conditions
A few top tips to keep in mind:
- Be honest and transparent about what you're doing and where the money's going.
- Don’t do anything risky or illegal in CALM’s name. That includes anything that could harm people’s safety, break platform rules, or land you in legal bother.
- If you're doing a raffle, competition or prize draw — make sure it’s a free prize draw or meets the gambling guidelines.
If in doubt, give us a shout. We’re here to help you raise funds in the right way.
You can do more than raise money, you can help your audience find real life-saving support.
Here's what we're all about:
One in four of us will have suicidal thoughts in our life. When you’re struggling, you often can’t see a way out. You see suicide as the only option. But at CALM we know it’s not. We know there’s always a reason to Stay.
That’s why we’re here to help anyone struggling with life - and provide everyone with the skills to help prevent suicide. Helping people end their misery, not their lives.
- We provide life-saving services, information and advice to help anyone struggling with life navigate the issues that can make us feel miserable. This includes our helpline which is here for anyone in the UK who is affected by suicide or suicidal thoughts. It’s free, anonymous and open from 5pm to midnight every day.
- We’ve got trusted tools that give you practical ways to manage your mental health.
- We campaign to make sure everyone has the knowledge and skills to unite against suicide.
The C.A.R.E. Kit is CALM’s bespoke product aimed at teaching trusted adults the skills to tackle conversations around suicide with young people.
The C.A.R.E. Kit is for any adult that cares about or cares for a young person. It teaches life-saving suicide prevention skills through our C.A.R.E. Learning Framework. It’s accessible, relatable and easy to use. Each module covers different situations and scenarios a young person may face, gives actionable advice, and offers a space to put learning in practice.
We know no young person is the same. Our advice is split into three modules to help tailor key information to individual needs - from prevention to early intervention and crisis.
We have practical, no-BS guides you can shout out. From coping with suicidal thoughts to navigating sexuality, money worries, or even dealing with a heatwave summer, there’s something for pretty much anything life throws at you.
Pick the ones that’ll resonate with your chat and point them to CALM’s site so they can get the help they need in their own time.
If your listeners are members of clubs, then talking about CALM Clubs during Behind the Mask could be the play.
From 5 a side on a Tuesday night, to the rugby team you captain, to Geoff who’s never missed a game of D&D in 2 years, we want everyone to make their club a CALM Club. Because it adds something more.
It’ll mean more open conversations. More people knowing CALM exists. And, ultimately, more people who know someone’s got their back if they’re struggling.
Your voice has the power to remind people that things can change, even when it feels impossible.
Whether it’s a game of fives, a rainy-day walk, a deep and meaningful, or a laugh with your mates, we want you to celebrate the stuff that makes life worth sticking around for and show your viewers that CALM’s here when things get tough.
Through Behind the Mask, we’re inviting Vtubers like you to open up — safely — about what’s helped you hold on. Because when you do, you let your community know they’re not alone, and that there’s support out there.
If you’ve ever felt like you couldn’t see a way forward, or you've been impacted by suicide in some way, talking about it can help change the conversation. But it’s important to keep it safe for you and your chat.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Be real, but not graphic. Share how you felt, but leave out specific or graphic details. Keep it honest without going too deep on the “how.”
Give a heads-up. Use a content warning so people can choose if they’re ready for it. (e.g. “Quick heads-up, this next bit mentions feeling really low.”)
Focus on what kept you here. The hope. The reasons to stay, no matter how big or small. Your dog. A late-night chat with a mate. That perfect shady spot in the park. It all counts.
Always signpost support. Don’t leave listeners hanging. Share links to CALM’s services (you’ll find them in the section above).
Know your boundaries. Decide ahead of time what you’re comfortable sharing and what you want to keep private. Maybe even practice it before you share.
You're doing an amazing thing with your channel by backing CALM’s life-saving services and letting your community know where they can get support. It’s brilliant to get these conversations going. But it might mean people reach out asking for help.
Remember: you’re not responsible for fixing things. The best thing you can do is signpost to CALM’s services throughout.
If you want to respond directly, here are some simple, supportive ways to do it:
When someone says:
“I’m struggling right now”
Sorry to hear that. That sounds really tough. If you're looking for support, CALM has loads of tools, from their helpline to guides to a space to offload. Check it out here: www.thecalmzone.net/get-support
“I’ve lost someone recently”
I'm really sorry to hear that. Grief is different for everyone, and whatever you’re feeling is OK. If you need support, CALM’s got a guide to grief and a directory of other brilliant services: www.thecalmzone.net/bereaved-by-suicide
“I’m feeling suicidal” or “I don’t want to keep living”
I’m so sorry you’re feeling like this. I’m really glad you said something—you deserve support. CALM has trained staff available 5pm–midnight on phone, webchat or WhatsApp. You don’t have to go through this alone: www.thecalmzone.net/feeling-suicidal
“I’m worried about someone in my life”
That sounds really hard. You don’t have to figure it all out on your own. CALM’s got tips on helping someone who’s struggling and a helpline you can call too: www.thecalmzone.net/worried-about-friend-or-family
