In the year since its launch, University of New Brunswick (UNB) students seeking mental health support have been turning to Togetherall, an online platform providing peer support, education and clinician-led guidance.
"We're really pleased to be offering access to Togetherall again this year because we saw significant engagement in the past 11 months," said April Kennedy, acting senior director of Health and Wellness at UNB.
"Last year, 244 students became regular users of the community-based platform, logging in an average of 33 times each to make posts, read articles and connect with clinicians."
"We rolled out Togetherall last October, and for a relatively short period of time, reaching that number of student users is a definite success. What's most important is that we're reaching students who may not otherwise seek help."
For the majority of UNB students using Togetherall, the platform is their first foray into seeking mental health support of any kind.
According to Kennedy, 67 percent of Togetherall users reported that they were not accessing any other forms of mental health support, and 89 percent said they had not engaged with other campus services.
"This means we're connecting with a diverse range of students, many of whom don't have other mental health support systems," said Kennedy. "We know from anonymous feedback that we're reaching students from different backgrounds who find something valuable on the platform."
The Health and Wellness team is looking to expand awareness of Togetherall this year, with plans to promote it via D2L to boost student participation.
"We know that when students try it, they tend to find something that resonates with them - whether it's reading about anxiety management or engaging with peers who relate to their struggles."
The peer-to-peer platform also plays a key role in reaching students who may be at higher risk for mental health struggles.
"In the past year, 31 percent of student users indicated some level of distress," Kennedy said. "In those cases, Togetherall offered direct support from a clinician and a connection to UNB resources, like mental health services, for those who needed immediate support."
Togetherall complements UNB's broader mental health initiatives, including individual and group therapy, outreach activities and workshops on anxiety, depression and stress management.
Next month, the innovative Wellness Hub at the Student Union Building will open to all students. A similar outreach initiative on the university's Saint John campus is in development.
"Togetherall is just one of many options for students, but it's 24/7 accessibility makes it a unique resource," Kennedy said.
As UNB continues to prioritize student wellness, Kennedy encourages more students to log on and try the platform.
"If students give it a chance, they may find it's the right fit for them. And if not, there are always other resources available. But the important thing is to take that first step."
