King's community receives access to 24/7 virtual mental health service
January 25, 2021
Written by Debesree Saha and Kellie McCarney, Communications Interns
Togetherall is a 24/7 online mental health platform guided by trained professionals. The service has been made available to two million students globally. King’s is the first university in Ontario and second in Canada to integrate the 24/7 online mental health platform into its broader suite of mental health supports available to its students and extend new support to the community.
This service will help those challenged with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues share their feelings and thoughts anonymously. Members in Togetherall can also express themselves creatively and write journals. Member are encouraged to identify their goals and track their progress, which will help them to be focused. There are also several online courses available to students to boost their mental health.
“We are proud to be the first University in Ontario to fully integrate the Togetherall platform to provide extended 24/7 support to students. This service complements our services currently being provided virtually at King’s and Western along with support provided by our CMHA Middlesex partners,” says Joe Henry, Dean of Students.
King’s students have welcomed the service according to representatives in Students’ Council.
“Togetherall is a great resource for King’s students who are struggling or just need someone to talk to. In my own experience, it’s often outside of business hours when I find myself most stressed and struggling mentally. I’m very glad that King’s has provided myself and all King’s students the opportunity to access these resources at any time we would need it,” says Zainab Al-Jaishi, King’s University College Students’ Council, Vice-President Student Affairs and 5th Year Double Major Political Science and Social Justice and Peace Studies.
This service has been funded by King’s and thanks to a generous donation from the Lawson Foundation. It is free for students to use by registering here. The website is mobile responsive for easy access.
“Togetherall allows the opportunity for authentic peer-to-peer connections. It essentially creates a community where people can support each other. Now more than ever, we need to extend our reach to assist our students. This platform is another tool for our toolbox toward enhancing wellness in our community,” Henry added.
Togetherall’s three core principles are access for many, measurable impact, and self-sufficiency.
These values are part of why King’s believes that Togetherall is part of the solution and able to provide our community with access to an open, inclusive, and safe community for those struggling with their mental health. Safe, peer-to-peer support is in alignment with the new National Standard of Canada for Mental Health and Well-Being for Post-Secondary Students.
Due to the pandemic, mental health resources matter now more than ever, which is why Togetherall is part of a host of health and wellness services offered by King’s, including virtual personal and pastoral counselling, the King's Library Resources on Wellness, King's myWellness Plans, Jack.org, a student club and King’s Academic Mentoring Program (KAMP). These services, and many others, currently provide health and wellness support to all students and will be highlighted as part of King’s participation in Bell Let’s Talk Day on January 28, 2021.
The introduction of Togetherall at King’s will be a part of a larger virtual participation in Bell Let’s Talk Day, which will include an e-mail care package, virtual photo booth and other online activities.
For more information on Bell Let’s Talk Day at King’s, visit: https://www.kings.uwo.ca/about-kings/visitor-info/calendar-of-events/bell-lets-talk-day/
Media coverage:
The London Free Press: COVID-19: Mental Health issues soar among students during pandemic: https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/covid-19-mental-health-issues-soar-among-students-during-pandemic
CBC London: Ontario's first 24/7 online mental health platform for students: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-158-london-morning/clip/15821138-ontarios-247-online-mental-health-platform-students
980 CFPL - King's University College introduces Togetherall as another mental health support for students: https://omny.fm/shows/am980/kings-university-college-introduces-togetherall-as