Students access remote wellbeing platform thanks to Mentally Fit York
Posted on 7 April 2020
Togetherall harnesses the protective and therapeutic effects of connectedness and healthy social networks in its community where people share with, and support each other. As the vast majority of York students socially distance themselves in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Togetherall offers a platform for emotional support that is available 24/7, in addition to remote services provided by the University’s Open Door team.
With thanks to donations to Mentally Fit York by a 1000-strong community of donors and participants in events such as The Great York Walk, funding for the Togetherall was able to be released almost immediately in order to quickly respond to the adaptations which students are having to make as they transition to distance learning.
Professor Karen Bloor, Chair of the Mentally Fit York Disbursement Group which oversees the deployment of funds to the areas of greatest need, said of the announcement: “At a time of changes and challenges for all of us, we felt it important to provide students who might be experiencing an increase in anxiety, depression or other common mental health issues with a first-class service that could provide remote support. Over time, we will contribute to evidence on student wellbeing and promoting student mental health through research projects like our Student Psychological Wellbeing Cohort study, which is also supported by philanthropic donations.
In this case, our ability to quickly intervene through opening access to the Togetherall was down solely to the generous support of donors to Mentally Fit York. We’d like to extend our sincere thanks to all donors who have enabled us to make this possible.”
As the Covid-19 pandemic unfolds, we will continue to fundraise for Mentally Fit York and our Emergency Student Support Fund to ensure that student wellbeing is at the heart of York’s response to Covid-19. If you’d like to make a gift, you can do so here.