New peer-to-peer mental health support available for students anytime, anywhere
Author: Hilary Creamer Robinson
Posted on Nov 9, 2023
Category: UNB Fredericton , UNB Saint John
All undergraduate and graduate students at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) and St. Thomas University (STU) now have free 24/7 access to a peer-to-peer online mental health support program. Members get support when they need it and give support when they can.
“We know that connection is so important to mental health. Like food, water and sleep, we need it to survive. Togetherall is about connecting with another human being the moment you need support,” said April Kennedy, director of UNB Counselling Services.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s 3 a.m. on a Saturday, if a student needs to talk, they can connect with other members in real-time,” said Kennedy.
The program’s support communities are monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by trained mental health professionals, who quickly intervene when crisis intervention is needed.
In addition to monitored one-on-one and group support, members also have access to resources like self-help courses that address anxiety, sleep, depression and more. Kennedy says the platform will help students know they’re not alone.
“You’re connecting with others who are going through the same thing,” she says. “When you see how many people are hooked in and online, like in a group chat, there can be comfort in the common struggle.”
Sharing difficult feelings and experiences, even anonymously, requires trust. Togetherall is dedicated to maintaining the privacy and protection of all its users. The platform is safe, secure and used by universities across Canada, all residents of Nova Scotia and Veterans Affairs Canada.
The program is available to all UNB and STU students and does not impact or replace other existing UNB counselling services, including its in-person peer support program, in-person and virtual counselling, crisis resources, Indigenous counselling and other digital mental health support tools.
To take full advantage of Togetherall’s services when needed most, Kennedy encourages all UNB and STU students to create a free account and become familiar with the platform's tools and resources.