The Reset Room is a calm oasis we provide at busy gaming/fandom events to help visitors support their wellbeing and enjoy their time without feeling overwhelmed. You can find out more about it here. But what’s it like to volunteer for the Reset Room? Lakshya Gopal (who was a medical student at the time) shares her experience…

Running the room

The first time I stepped into London’s ExCel Centre for the MCM Comic Con, I felt a bit like I’d entered another world. There were endless queues of cosplayers, rows upon rows of merch and the buzz of Comic Con energy. Tucked away in the middle of it all was the calm and quiet space called the Reset Room.

Run by Gaming the Mind, the Reset Room is a cosy, low-sensory zone for visitors who might be feeling overstimulated or overwhelmed. The room is set up to feel calmer than the main show area with dim lighting, comfy seating and calming activities such as colouring, reading, origami, Lego and puzzles. It also offers visitors the chance to chat with a volunteer, if they need help or just a friendly face to talk to away from the bustle of the main events. My role involved helping to set up and organise the Reset Room, welcoming people into the space, helping maintain a calm and safe environment, and having brief, supportive conversations with attendees who wanted to take a break from the main event.

In May 2024, at the end of my 5th year of medical school, I volunteered in the Reset Room for the London MCM Comic Con for the first time, and enjoyed it so much I volunteered again the same year in October (despite needing to concentrate on my fast-approaching final exams!). As someone who’s passionate about mental health and also a lifelong fan of video games it felt like the perfect blend of two worlds I care deeply about.

I had never been to the ExCel before, but I was guided to the right place by the other volunteers, who were all really friendly. I remember walking into the Reset Room early on Saturday morning, and immediately feeling its warm, relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. There were bean bags, soft lighting and thoughtful activities dotted around. I met my fellow colleagues for the day, who ranged from consultant psychiatrists to medical students… anyone interested in video games and mental health, really! 

We began the day by having a team talk. Here the team leader (someone who has experience doing the Reset Room and our point of contact for extra support) explained to us that one volunteer would be inside the Reset Room itself and another would be at an information desk nearby outside, and that we would take turns staffing these. We had breaks during the day so there were plenty of opportunities to explore Comic Con as well! 

I helped make sure all the items in the Reset Room were in the right place, and that everything was working as it should be. Soon the convention day had started, and we began to welcome visitors. Visitors came in for all sorts of reasons; to de-stress, take a social breather, or just enjoy a quiet moment. As volunteers, we were there to make that easier: offering support if needed, chatting with visitors, or sometimes just sitting quietly and holding the space. 

How it feels

What really made the experience special for me, though, was the team. Meeting other Gaming the Mind volunteers and bonding over our shared love of gaming and wellbeing made the whole thing even more rewarding. We swapped stories about favourite games and discussed how mental health is represented in gaming. It was a really nice way to connect with other people with similar interests to my own, making me realise it’s not as random or niche a combination as I would have originally thought.

Of course, I also got to take breaks and explore the convention myself. I loved seeing everyone’s costumes, browsing the artist alley, and picking up a few souvenirs for my friends and family. It really feels like there’s something for everyone there, whether you’re a tabletop gamer, or console gamer, or into television drama or literature. MCM Comic Con itself is a great experience. But I always found myself looking forward to returning to the Reset Room because of its relaxed and quiet environment. There was something deeply fulfilling about helping create a space where visitors could relax, even in the middle of such a high-energy event.

After volunteering for the Reset Room a few times, I was able to be a team leader myself. Leading the Reset Room added a layer of responsibility: setting the tone for the space, coordinating fellow volunteers, and stepping in when situations needed gentle guidance. It helped me build confidence in facilitating wellbeing-focused spaces, managing group dynamics, and supporting people without overstepping into a clinical role. If you’re interested in mental health, community work, or events-based volunteering, the Reset Room is a practical way to build real-world skills while making a real difference to people.

I look back fondly at my times volunteering at the Reset Room. It was both immensely fun and deeply meaningful to pull together two of my biggest passions and put it towards a good purpose. Volunteering in the Reset Room with Gaming the Mind was a hands-on way to support wellbeing in a real, practical setting. It reminded me how powerful small acts of care can be, and how important it is to make space for people to look after their mental wellbeing. I’d recommend the experience to anyone – whether you’re a mental health advocate, a gamer, or just someone who wants to give back.