Young people living in the Stirling council region are the latest in Scotland to be offered free access to 24/7 online mental health services following an extended period of strict Covid lockdown restrictions.
People aged 16-26 can now receive professional counselling from home for a range of mental health issues, including isolation, anxiety and depression.
Online network Togetherall, which has been commissioned by over 250 organisations globally, has now partnered with a third of Scottish councils to provide free mental health services to young people.
In February, Dundee, Angus and Perth & Kinross councils worked together to bring the anonymous service to Tayside.
And in January it was offered to youngsters in South Ayrshire.
One in four people will suffer from mental health problems in their lifetime, and according to the Mental Health Foundation, almost half of Scots aged 18-24 have suffered from loneliness during the ongoing public health crisis.
Bryony Monaghan, interim head of education at Stirling Council, said: “Togetherall is something young people can use at any time of the day or night. It’s a safe and anonymous online space you can go to if you’re feeling down, struggling to cope or just want to talk to people who understand what you’re going through.
“The peer-to-peer support network provides support when you need it and professionals are available if required. You can join a supportive online community, take part in a range of courses, self-assessments and access self-help materials.”
Monaghan added: “Togetherall is a safe an anonymous space online for you to share what’s troubling you. Nobody needs to know you’re getting support as you pick an anonymous username and it’s completely separate from the Council. Togetherall also has a dedicated customer service team, contactable via theteam@Togetherall.com who will help support you confidentially with any technical issues you may have.”
Henry Jones, chief executive of Togetherall, said he was “delighted” to be working with the Scottish council.
He added: “From today, we welcome Stirling Council to our community, providing free access to all 16-26 year-olds. We are here to support you anytime, anywhere.”
Togetherall is also partnered with 26 colleges and universities in Scotland to offer services to their students and staff, including Glasgow Caledonian University and Edinburgh Napier University.
The platform saw an increase of 246 per cent during the first lockdown in April 2020 and monthly engagement up 100 per cent on average.
Established in 2007, Togetherall is a leading online mental health service that provide millions of people throughout the UK, New Zealand, Canada and the US access to community and professional support, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
How to use the platform
To use the service, visit togetherall.com and click the register tab and select the ‘My area is registered’ option and enter your postcode.
New users are then asked to create a username that does not identify them in anyway.
For other guidance and support for people experiencing problems with substance misuse and co-occurring mental health problems in Stirling, visit here.