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UNK Student Health and Counseling partnered with Togetherall to provide free and instant mental health care for students. This site will allow anyone with a UNK email to create an account and get support from a global community of peers, as well as gain access to 24/7 counseling.
Togetherall may remove the typical stress and fear of going into a counseling center, and it places help right at students’ fingertips.
“We realize that a lot of people are still reporting that they feel disconnected and alone, like they don’t belong,” said Kiphany Hof, associate director of counseling. “They are a lot of times hesitant to come to a counseling center. We were looking at how we can support students for that sort of anonymity in the middle of the night when a counseling center is not open, but they want to feel connected.”
Togetherall works similarly to a social media platform as it allows users to create posts and chat with others from around the world. Individuals with a UNK email are able to register and create an anonymous account where they can make Talkabouts (posts) and chat with individuals from all over who are in a similar headspace.
Users are also able to customize a brick on the virtual wall and express their feelings through drawings or by uploading their own images.
Togetherall is not only a useful resource for individuals who may be too nervous to seek support, but it serves as a lifeline for those who are already in counseling.
“It gives them the opportunity to have an outlet or a space to talk about things, especially in crisis if they need somebody and their counseling session isn’t for a few weeks down the road,” said Megan McAlvey, a UNK counseling intern.
Every post is monitored by licensed mental health professionals called “wall guides” whose purpose is to ensure the safety and anonymity of all users. Wall guides are able to comment on users’ posts, as well as reach out to those who indicate thoughts of self-harm.
This service also ensures that students have access to accurate mental health information all in one place.
“Sometimes when you pull information about mental health from social media, it might not be accurate,” Hof said. “So (Togetherall) is giving you accurate information and assessments, and again, is monitored by professional folks.”
Togetherall also provides free self-assessments for those who think they may be suffering from a mental disorder such as depression or anxiety. Students are also able to go through self-guided courses on topics such as managing stress and procrastination.