Council launches new online community platform to support people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing

Togetherall, a new online mental health support service for young people and adults across Shropshire, has been launched this week.

Togetherall logo

The 24/7 online support service is a collaboration between Shropshire Council’s Public Health Team and Togetherall, an online service provider which offers free access and support for people with anxiety, depression and other common mental health issues.

 Togetherall offers an anonymous community where members can share how they are feeling and support each other. The service includes:

• Access 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• Clinically managed with trained professionals available 24/7 to keep the community safe
• Self-assessments and recommended resources
• Creative tools to help express how you’re feeling
• Wide range of self-guided courses to do at your own pace

Councillor Dean Carroll, Cabinet Member with responsibilities for public health and adult social care said:

“There are many pressures in our lives that can sometimes feel overwhelming and lead us to feel sad, depressed, anxious, confused or struggling to cope.  It can often be helpful to talk through these concerns with a trusted person, others who have been through similar experiences or to be able to use creative outlets to express emotions.

“Togetherall is a new online offer for Shropshire residents and health and social care staff working in Shropshire and offers a safe and anonymous digital environment to support mental health and wellbeing.

“I would therefore really encourage anyone who is feeling overwhelmed and struggling to cope with day to day life, especially during this time, to sign up. Togetherall is free for anyone aged 16 and above, and can be accessed at www.togetherall.com  and only requires a postcode and email address to register.”

Gordon Kochane, Public Health Consultant and Mental Health Lead at Shropshire Council added;

“Togetherall is an online community for anyone aged 16 and above to share experiences about their mental and emotional health in confidence, offer peer to peer support, utilise creative tools and is accessible 24/7 with trained professionals always available.

“There are also options to take part in a range of free self-guided courses to do at your own pace covering topics such as managing sleep problems, stress and worry, social anxiety and anger management as well as access to self-assessments and resources to help people look after themselves, take control and feel better.”

Henry Jones, CEO of Togetherall commented:

“I am delighted to announce the availability of Togetherall to residents of Shropshire. Returning to new forms of normality after an unprecedented start to 2020 has been a challenge for everyone, which is why a resource such as ours is freely accessible to the whole population, who have had to cope with heightened feelings of stress, anxiety, isolation and loneliness.

“Togetherall offers residents a connection with our supportive and safe online community, built on shared experiences, where members can truly say how they are feeling, learn new coping skills and feel better in themselves.”

 

To access support go to www.togetherall.com. The service is free and only requires a postcode and email address to register.

Further mental health advice and support

More information about local and wider mental health and emotional wellbeing support can be found on the dedicated Shropshire Council webpage at https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/disability-information/mental-health/ and on the Council COVID19 mental health page at https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/coronavirus/information-for-the-public/mental-health-and-wellbeing/

Drop in Zoom sessions for students

Virtual drop-in sessions for young people

Togetherall will also be part of the offer provided for students receiving their exam results during August along with the virtual Zoom drop in sessions being held on Saturday 15th August and Saturday 22nd August (1-2pm).

Further information:

Free access to Togetherall is funded by Shropshire Council as part of the social response to COVID19, recognising that many individuals and communities have been affected by the pandemic with mental wellbeing being negatively impacted.  The offer is part of a suite of mental wellbeing resources recently launched by Shropshire Council including the new free bereavement support service (accessible via calling 0345 678 9028).

About Togetherall

Togetherall is a leading online mental health service that provides over 20 million people throughout the UK, Canada and New Zealand access to community and professional support, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The service is clinically proven to help those who are struggling with stress, isolation, anxiety, depression and other common mental health issues.

Togetherall offers anonymous and free online support in a safe and welcoming community environment, courses and resources. The service is clinically managed and professionally moderated 24 hours day by a team of Wall Guides who facilitate engagement across the community and its behaviour. The team also expertly manages risk on a case-by-case basis. In addition to the online network, Togetherall offers 1-1 online therapy via its secure video platform.

Togetherall was the first, and remains the only, digital mental health service to be registered and rated with the UK’s health and social care regulatory body, Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Togetherall‘s commitment to putting its services through Randomized Control Trial’s to improving effectiveness, was rated outstanding.

Togetherall complements existing services within a care pathway and is easilyscalable to support population health due to its community nature. It uses a “one-to many” approach which means it’s accessible to thousands at a time and can also compliment treatment in a one-patient-to-one-practitioner model.