Free Togetherall mental health online community expanded in Orkney

More young people than ever in Orkney are now able to access the Togetherall online mental health community website for free.

The Council has commissioned an expansion of the 24/7 online peer to peer mental health community to enable young people, from the age of 16-31, to be able to access the digital platform for free.

For the past year it was available at no cost to 16-19-year-olds in the county. During that period around 40 young people from Orkney took self-assessments using Togetherall and raised issues including depression, social fear, anxiety, loss or trauma, obsessive or compulsive tendencies, concern about eating, phobias, concern about drinking or drugs, self-esteem and problems sleeping.

Cathy Lyner, the Council’s Principal Educational Psychologist, said: “We are pleased to be bringing this additional free mental health tool to more young people in Orkney than ever before, and would encourage anyone aged 16-31 to make use of this anonymous platform if you are experiencing difficult feelings of any kind.

“Feelings such as loneliness and hopelessness can potentially lead to more serious mental health conditions including, anxiety, depression and psychosis. Without the correct interventions, these conditions can have a significant negative effect on life outcomes over time and in the past decade, have become interconnected with a rise in poverty and homelessness.

“Young adults, students, single parents, and people who are unemployed are particularly impacted, and this has led authorities and education departments to think beyond traditional healthcare provisions.

“Through Togetherall, the anonymised member usage data has enabled our service to understand that feeling lonely or hopeless does not always mean the person requires specialised treatment. In fact, just having someone else to share thoughts and feelings with, can help to prevent an exacerbation of difficult feelings.

“Those aged 16-31 in Orkney can check in on their mental health and wellbeing, at a time that suits them and from a place of comfort. Being able to access face-to-face support is also very important for some people, but for many using these anonymous, online solutions can be an important first step in opening up and sometimes prevent the need for more complex support further down the line.

“We want our children and young people to get the right help, at the right time, in the right place.”

Togetherall supports immediate and longer-term mental health or situational distress, enabling members to feel more in control of their emotional health. The philosophy of early intervention aims to improve the mental wellbeing of members, providing them with the necessary tools and resources to manage their own journey to improving their mental health.

Togetherall exists to provide a solution to support some of the current problems with the current model of MH support:

• accessibility – long waiting lists – prevents people accessing support or people deteriorating whilst waiting;
• stigma – in response to a lack of safe spaces for people to open up online without fear of stigma or judgement;
• lack of choice – sometimes people just need a helping hand to get back on track – and to realise that they are not alone. 1 in 3 hadn’t sought support before coming to Togetherall.

In addition to the community, members have the safety and accessibility of the Togetherall ‘Wall Guides’ who are all trained mental health professionals and are there to make sure everyone remains safe and supported. They are available 24/7/365.

For further information contact Togetherall’s Roisin Lynch Roisin.Lynch@togetherall.com