Nova Scotia extends contract with online mental health resource Togetherall
Community helps.
That’s one of the lessons learned by those tending to this province’s growing mental health struggles.
On Wednesday, the Nova Scotia Health Authority extended its contract with an online mental health support service that through creating a community, encourages those with mental health struggles to help one another.
Togetherall is an online tool that allows people with mental health challenges to discuss their struggles and share strategies anonymously in online forums moderated by trained support workers.
“Some people may not need higher level services like talking to a psychologist or a psychiatrist,” said Theo Woehrle, a senior analyst with the Nova Scotia Health Authority’s health and addictions program.
“Many just need to vent or share their story or see what other people are experiencing and then relate to that.”
Since the province joined the service two years ago, 7,490 Nova Scotians have signed up by creating anonymous logins that only require you provide a postal code or, if you’re a student, an email address.
“One of the advantages of peer to peer tools is accessibility and convenience — they are there wherever you have internet and access is 24-7,” said Woehrle.
