Update: An Open Letter From Danny Rensch On Our BetterHelp Partnership
Hey everyone, a quick but important update from me.
First, thanks to everyone who chimed in over the last couple weeks here. Mental Health is a big and important topic, and we knew when we announced the partnership with BetterHelp that there would be a wide range of opinions and views.
I want to say that while Chess.com has worked with many sponsors, as driving commercial viability for the game is a major part of our business goals, we have never (nor do we desire to!) worked with a partner who we didn’t think brought some kind of service or “valuable good” to our community. The same goes for BetterHelp! We chose to work with them based on a shared belief in the importance of providing affordable access to mental health services. I wrote this (original) blog from that view, and stand by the decision to give BetterHelp that chance.
Since the announcement, we have taken the time to carefully listen and consider this conversation from all angles. Despite the positive intentions behind this sponsorship and our continued belief that BetterHelp has addressed the issues of its past, it has become clear that this specific partnership is not the right fit for our community at this time. Because of this, we have agreed with BetterHelp to discontinue our collaboration for both the Champions Chess Tour and the Speed Chess Championship. The next leg of the CCT will still begin on May 8th.
As I said in my initial post, we recognize that mental health is a personal journey and not a one-size-fits-all. Along with supporting Chess.com’s core missions, I could not personally be more passionate about the topic of helping people on their own paths of self-improvement. For many, therapy has been a great tool toward helping them arrive at just that: being the best version of themselves. That said, and as I originally posted, BetterHelp isn’t for everyone, telehealth isn’t for everyone, and even therapy itself isn’t for everyone.
Despite sharing in the values of BetterHelp’s goals, I feared the surrounding conversation about this partnership was beginning to distract (and would likely continue to) from our company’s most important mission: to bring joy to people’s lives through the game of chess.
Our community always comes first, and we are ultimately here to serve and grow the game we love. From that view, I now stand by the decision to bring our partnership to an end, and to get back to serving millions of chess fans around the world.
- Danny
PS – I encourage anyone exploring the need for mental help support in their life to consider the services they choose carefully, and to include BetterHelp in the list of options available to them - here’s their FAQ. To help you determine if they're the right fit, BetterHelp is offering our community a free month of therapy. You can learn more at betterhelp.com/chess.
- original blog posted on April 19, 2024
Today, we announced that BetterHelp has partnered with Chess.com as an Official Partner of both the Champions Chess Tour and the Speed Chess Championship. We are excited about the partnership but felt it was important to address some of the more difficult questions that come with any conversation around mental health. This partnership decision was not made lightly, and I want to walk you through our thought process.
Mental health is a subject close to my heart. I've been open about my own battles with anxiety and depression, and I understand the power of therapy to navigate life's pressures and many of its deeper challenges. That said, while I am grateful for my therapist, I have heard too many unfortunate stories of “bad therapy.” It does exist. And anyone seeking support for their mental health should keep looking until they find the person and provider that works for them.
I would be the first to say that therapy isn’t right for everyone. Further, even for those who do seek it, “remote sessions” (i.e. telehealth) may not be the best fit. I began therapy almost 9 years ago and switched to remote sessions during the COVID-19 pandemic. For me, I was surprised that even after the option to continue visits in person returned, I was more than comfortable continuing online, and I have been able to make progress with my personal goals this way. I can personally say the accessibility and convenience of online therapy has allowed me more flexibility with a busy family life at home, hectic and demanding travel for work, and, at times, an unpredictable need to connect quickly and discuss something important.
When Erik and I first considered partnering with BetterHelp, we heard about the criticisms they've faced. We looked deeper, engaged in discussions with BetterHelp and consulted with industry experts. We had no intention of entering into a partnership unless they had addressed the concerns we heard about.
When we looked closely, we saw that BetterHelp had been genuine about addressing people’s concerns and (from what we could see) had taken important steps to learn from past mistakes. This gave us enough confidence to move forward with our partnership, but if we learn they have stopped taking things seriously, we’d change our mind. We find their mission to be in earnest, to connect their users with quality services that help – knowing full well that mental health is not a one-size-fits-all solution. We believe in the value they bring, especially in making mental health support more accessible to people everywhere.
I understand this partnership may prompt questions. It's important to me that the chess community knows we approached this decision with the serious consideration it deserves. BetterHelp may not be the perfect fit for everyone, but for many, it can offer an essential resource in improving their mental health.
Ultimately, we're excited about this partnership and its potential to positively impact the chess world. We remain open to dialogue and feedback, understanding that the conversation around mental health and telehealth services is ongoing. We appreciate your support in giving BetterHelp a chance to expand access to mental health resources in the chess community.
- Danny
