Council renews online mental health support for residents after successful first year 

A one-year pilot project to give people in Hartlepool access to a safe, online community to support them with their mental health has been such a success it has now been extended by Hartlepool Borough Council for the longer term.

Togetherall is an online support community set up in 2007 and used by more than 20 million people worldwide.

Members can share what’s on their mind, anonymously, any time of the day or night.

There’s support available for a wide range of issues, from anxiety, depression and isolation to relationship issues and lifestyle challenges.

Members can also make their own journey to better mental wellbeing through a range of online self-help courses covering topics from coping with grief and loss to problem-solving and anxiety.

Most importantly, it’s safe because Togetherall is overseen around the clock by licensed mental health professionals who are ready to help if a person reaches out to them or to step in if they feel a person needs their support.

Hartlepool Borough Council was the first Tees Valley Council to commission Togetherall, making it available completely free to Hartlepool residents aged 16 or over from March last year.

It had previously trialled another online mental health support system, but that did not prove as successful.

During the Togetherall Hartlepool pilot:

• 92% of the Hartlepool members said it has had either a helpful or a very helpful impact on their mental health.
• 67% weren’t receiving any other form of mental health support.
• One of the most popular Togetherall features was an art therapy element.

One Hartlepool resident, Lorraine, summed up why people are turning to Togetherall: “I think this is brilliant … using it when needed with the added safety of knowing that you would be helped if you were in crisis and referred for support and help when you needed it.”

Councillor Gary Allen, Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Adult and Community-Based Services Committee, said: “We all have bad times when we struggle with the challenges of life and it has never been more important for us to maintain our mental health.

“Togetherall provides a supportive, anonymous and safe community which people can turn to for support, understanding and encouragement at any time and we are delighted to continue to provide access to it for Hartlepool residents in partnership with the Togetherall team.”

Matthew McEvoy, Chief Executive Officer of Togetherall, added: “We are thrilled to be able to continue to support the residents of Hartlepool with our online community, following the very successful 12-month pilot.

“People supporting each other is a key part of maintaining good mental health and it’s especially important in reaching individual people who, for a variety of reasons, may not be comfortable reaching out to other forms of support.

“We look forward very much to continuing to work with the Council.” 

For more information about Togetherall – or to join today for free if you live in Hartlepool and you are aged 16 or over – visit www.togetherall.com.