Togetherall – a small conversation has the power to make a big difference

Senior students in Orkney receive online mental health community awareness sessions

Senior students at Orkney’s two largest secondary schools have received awareness sessions on the availability of a free online mental health community called Togetherall.

Orkney Islands Council commissioned Togetherall in August 2021 and since then 35 young people aged 16-19 in the county have taken self-assessments using the digital platform.

Issues raised included 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.

The Council’s team behind Togetherall want to ensure that all 2,000 16-19-year-olds are aware of the online community.

Roisin Lynch, OIC Senior Account Manager and Togetherall, has given a number of presentations to S5/6 students at Stromness Academy (Friday 17 June) and Kirkwall Grammar School (Tuesday 21 June) raising awareness of the peer-to-peer community and demonstrating how it works.

She explained: “Students were engaging and attentive while I explained about Togetherall an evidence based, clinically moderated, 24/7 online peer to peer mental health community and is freely available to young people aged 16-19. We are in discussions at present to see if there is funding available to continue the service after August this year and whether it can be extended to a wider age group.

“Members join our community anonymously for support with a wide range of mental health and wellbeing issues, from anxiety, depression, and isolation to relationship issues and lifestyle challenges.

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

Togetherall is seen as an addition tool to the current model of mental health support in terms of:

• accessibility – long waiting lists – prevents people accessing support or people are deteriorating whilst waiting;
• stigma – we exist in response to a lack of safe spaces for people to open up online without fear of stigma or judgement;
• lack of choice – sometimes you just need a helping hand to get back on track – and to realise you are simply 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.

Togetherall offers a range of activities that allow young people to work through what's troubling them:

• community: forums where people help people, sharing thoughts and joining a ‘talkabout’ alongside fellow members to share experience, gain support and advice. There are also drawings tools to enable the creative expression of difficult emotions;
• courses - in addition to the community, members have access to a wealth of resources and self-help courses covering all mental health and lifestyle topics from ‘Coping with Grief and Loss, to Problem Solving, Health Anxiety and ‘How to stop Procrastinating’;
• resources: access to a library of articles which can help members understand more about feelings, learning new skills and improving wellbeing, as well as self-assessments.

Togetherall has been actively involved in supporting the mental health of the population in Scotland since 2013.

Since then, 75% of Scottish universities and colleges have introduced access to the Togetherall community, to provide their students and staff an instant and anonymous source of support.

However, a third of local authorities such as OIC, wanted to support more young people through an investment in Togetherall.

Cathy Lyner is the Council’s Principal Educational Psychologist. She said: “The COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting economic recession, have negatively affected many people’s mental health and created new barriers for people already suffering from mental illness.

“Some of the adverse effects have already been reported by Mental Health Foundation Scotland, who conducted one of the first studies to systematically track people’s mental health during the pandemic. Their findings show an increase in loneliness (18%), feelings of hopelessness (15%) and suicide ideation (3%).

“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 negative effect 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.

“Authorities have been looking to fill a gap in provision where face-to-face support may be challenging due to either difficulties in attending appointments or fear of stigma. Central to this was finding a service people could trust.

“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 treatment. In fact, just having someone else to share thoughts and feelings with, can help to prevent an exacerbation of difficult feelings.”

A Togetherall member said: “I found it almost impossible to discuss my mental health with my parents. I was frightened of talking about it to my friends. Being able to talk online about that with other people was really useful.”

Cathy continued: “For the council, having a variety of tools to support people’s mental health has meant that individuals can access support in a way that suits them, depending on their unique journey and circumstances, and the level of support they require.

“Those aged 16-19 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.”