Centennial College provides digital peer-to-peer support for 45,000 students, enhancing stepped care service model

We are thrilled to announce that students at Centennial College now have access to a clinically moderated mental health support resource. Through a newly established collaboration with Togetherall, students can engage with a global community of peers, giving and getting peer support in a safe and anonymous online environment, available 24/7/365.  

Based in the buzzing hub of Toronto, Centennial College is the oldest publicly funded college in Ontario, Canada. Centennial College has been recognized as a culturally diverse post-secondary institution, representing nearly 100 ethno-cultural groups amongst its students.  

Catherine Chen, Director, Equitable Learning, Health and Wellness, and her team are always looking for new and innovative ways to care for and successfully reach their large student body – not always an easy task. Centennial’s existing services include a variety of health and wellness programs, individual and group peer support, on-campus professional counselling services, and community partnerships to enhance on-campus after-hours support, all part of their stepped care approach to mental health supports. While these services have improved their offerings, they were looking for something with a 24/7 touchpoint and greater reach. 

Enter Togetherall and digital peer-to-peer support. 

What tipped the scales for Chen and her team were three main components of Togetherall: 24/7 accessibility, clinical moderation, and risk intervention. These were qualities no other service had. Chen spoke to this in saying, 

“With post-secondary students everywhere increasingly reaching out and speaking up about their mental health, we are committed to ensuring they have access to a range of supports that meet them where they’re at. Togetherall offers 24/7 clinically moderated and anonymous peer-to-peer support, which complements our current suite of services.” 

Togetherall’s CEO, Matthew McEvoy, shared, 

“We are thrilled to provide Centennial College’s students with a safe online space where they can give and get mental health support from others who understand, 24/7. Togetherall is designed to fit into and even enhance a stepped care model, as it complements other more traditional and intensive services. As Centennial students join Togetherall’s community wherever they are on their mental health journey, they can get additional support from licensed mental health professionals who oversee the platform around-the-clock, immediately responding to risk. We look forward to partnering with Centennial College and supporting the mental health of their 45,000 students throughout this year and beyond.” 

About Togetherall     

To date, Togetherall is available to 4.5 million students worldwide at more than 450 colleges and universities. Togetherall is the leading clinically managed, peer-to-peer, online support community where students can share what’s on their minds, anonymously, safely, and in-the-moment, 24/7/365. Students can connect through shared lived experiences with a global network of peers, backed by the safeguarding of real, live, licensed clinicians overseeing the community around-the-clock. These clinicians empower individuals in peer-to-peer support and foster and maintain a safe, vibrant environment.      

If you are interested in offering safe and scalable ways to support your students’ mental health, contact us to find out more about Togetherall’s online community.