In a move to provide free virtual peer support services to all University of Wisconsin-Madison students, University Health Services (UHS) and Recreation & Wellbeing announced a partnership with Togetherall on April 3. Togetherall is an online platform that allows students to seek and provide mental health support for others while sharing personal experiences.
Dr. Ellen Marks, UHS senior associate director of clinical mental health services, highlighted the unique aspect of Togetherall as being focused on student-to-student connection. Through the service, students can receive anonymous peer support via message posts and comments, according to UHS. These community-oriented, peer-to-peer conversations are moderated by clinical “wall guides” that can intervene if necessary to connect students with appropriate assistance.
The anonymous aspect of the platform provides a space for students to connect about mental health topics in a relaxed, supportive environment. This accessibility to peer support reduces the barriers for students who may be less inclined to seek clinical mental health care. A 2022 Healthy Minds Survey conducted by UHS found that 46% of students reported receiving mental or emotional health support from their friends.
Togetherall expands the resources already offered by UHS and creates a fully online, anonymous space that connects students nationwide. Funding for Togetherall comes from the Charles E. Kubly Foundation and the UHS Suicide Prevention Fund. Students can access Togetherall through the student registration page on their campus’ website.
By partnering with Togetherall, UHS officials hope to reduce stigma surrounding mental health issues among college students and provide them with more accessible resources for seeking help when needed.
“We’re excited about this partnership because it provides us with another tool in our toolbox for supporting student wellbeing,” said Dr. Marks.
Overall, this new resource will help improve overall wellbeing of university students by providing them with more options for seeking help and connecting with peers who have similar experiences.
“We believe that by providing this service we can create a culture of openness and understanding around mental health at UW-Madison,” said Dr. Marks.
