Southern University System partners with Togetherall to provide students with 24/7 peer-to-peer mental health support
By: Southern University Office of Communications
In continued efforts to provide students with accessible mental health care, the Southern University System has partnered with Togetherall to offer all students free 24/7 online peer-to-peer mental health support. The Togetherall portfolio of services will soon be available to students at all five campuses of the System: Southern University and A&M College, Southern University Law Center, and Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Baton Rouge; Southern University at New Orleans; and Southern University at Shreveport.
Anxiety, depression, stress, suicidal ideation, loneliness and relationship issues were all challenges experienced by our students before the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr. ValaRay Irvin, executive director of the University Counseling Center at Southern’s Baton Rouge campus. “However, after the pandemic, we saw a sharp rise in the number of students seeking assistance for these challenges. We learned that students found comfort in supporting one another, rather than turning to traditional counseling services. It gives us peace of mind to know that our students will receive accurate and effective assistance from Togetherall, and that the community will be monitored by licensed professionals, rather than having students turn to disreputable social media platforms or websites for answers.”
Concerns about the mental health of students in higher education have grown significantly over the past few years. Between classes, studying, extracurricular activities and social lives, students need support that is accessible to them when they need it. By partnering with Togetherall, the Southern University System ensures that its students have access to mental health resources they can trust to be safe, anonymous, nonjudgmental and all-inclusive.
Togetherall works closely with college communities to offer a 24/7 online platform that embraces the importance of anonymous peer-to-peer engagement, while also maintaining a regulated method with professional monitoring. Across the United States, Togetherall has partnered with more than 350 colleges and universities seeking to advance their mental health resources. In a recent survey of Togetherall members, 93 percent self-reported an improvement in their well-being after using the platform, 80 percent reported feeling less isolated, and 64 percent indicated they share thoughts and feelings on the platform because it is anonymous.
Students can register with their SUS email addresses