Togetherall partners with Oregon State University to offer free, online, mental health service
As an extension of its existing relationship with ProtoCall Services for after-hours campus counseling center coverage, Oregon State University (OSU) recently announced that it will be providing its students with free access to Togetherall.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, where universities had to reduce in-person services, the roll-out of Togetherall is a timely addition to the other mental health support services that OSU offers.
In fact, while students may be distanced from their physical community, the platform provides a continuous virtual community where users are anonymous to each other and can share and seek support. If an urgent risk is identified after hours, OSU users of Togetherall will be transferred to ProtoCall.
In their recent announcement of the roll-out, OSU highlighted the need for remote mental health support options for students in addition to face-to-face counseling. “It is difficult for students to feel connected right now, so we are eager to provide them with a virtual space where they can be vulnerable and authentic when they need support, and provide support to others who may be struggling,” said Bonnie Hemrick, Assistant Director of Mental Health Promotion with OSU’s Counseling & Psychological Services. “This first year of Togetherall has been made possible with funding by Dam Worth It, a mental health and awareness initiative that utilizes the influential platform of sport to create a community dedicated to ending the stigma around mental health.”
Togetherall provides an online peer-to-peer mental health community, moderated by mental health professionals that empower individuals to anonymously seek and provide support 24/7. In a recent survey of Togetherall members, nearly 80% of students indicated that the main reason for joining was feelings of depression, and 70% cited feelings of anxiety. Nearly 50% of students surveyed do not have regular contact with a healthcare provider for the issues that led them to seek support.
OSU joins several colleges and universities across the United States using Togetherall to provide additional student support at this time. The universities of Ohio, Loyola (Maryland), Bridgewater State, Georgia State, the universities of West Florida and South Florida and Rasmussen College have all recently joined Togetherall.
If you are interested in offering scalable ways to support your students’ mental health, contact us to find out more about Togetherall’s online support community.
