The Crimson White Print Edition - February 8th, 2024

2A
news
Togetherall promotes mental health and suicide awareness among students
Rachel Seale
Staff Writer
Togetherall, an
anonymous peer
support chat room, is
promoting mental health
awareness among college
students.
The online platform
was brought to campus
in January 2023 by the
Couseling Center, which
has since partnered with
the Student Government
Association and the
Division of Student Life.
Students can access
the platform by going to
the Counseling Center’s
website, or through
Blackboard Learn by
navigating to the assist tab
and logging in with their
Crimson email.
Collier Dobbs, SGA
president, said Togetherall
was chosen due to
the number of robust
resources the platform
provides. He said the SGA
helped get the platform
integrated to Blackboard
so that any professor or
instructor can attach it to
their course’s tool
panel tab.
Greg Vander Wal,
executive director of the
Counseling Center and
Collegiate Recovery and
Intervention Services, said
Togetherall was purchased
through the partnership
between the Counseling
Center, Student Life,
and SGA, which makes
the platform free for all
students.
The University of
Alabama is the only
SEC school that charges
for individual therapy
sessions. UA individual
counseling requires a $15
charge per session after a
student’s first visit, while
group sessions are free.
Dobbs said counseling
accessibility and prices
have been an ongoing
conversation within the
SGA for the last two and a
half years.
“I would love to see
any barriers to entry
to a counseling center
taken away, lifted off
your shoulders, really
and truly,” Dobbs said.
“We will continue the
conversations, most
definitely.”
Vander Wal said the
platform works similarly
to group therapy by
allowing students to have
a safe space to connect
with other individuals
on their own campus or
other campuses across the
country for peer support.
He said mental health
staff also monitor the
system and can intervene
if needed.
I would love to
see any barriers
to entry to a
counseling center
taken away, lifted
off your shoulders,
really and truly. We
will continue the
conversations, most
definitely.
Collier Dobbs
SGA President
“It provides an
alternative way to seek
support for mental
health,” Vander Wal said.
“It helps students relate
to somebody that’s going
through similar things,
which is a really powerful
thing when you’re coping
and struggling with
concerns surrounding
mental health.”
Vander Wal said that
almost 600 students have
used the platform within
the last year. He said the
anonymity and ease of
access to Togetherall is
helping to reduce barriers
around seeking help when
it comes to mental health.
Steven Hood, vice
president for student life,
wrote in an email that he
hopes students will take
advantage of this resource.
“Engaging with peers
who are going through
similar experiences can
offer helpful support to
you, and the monitoring
from licensed mental
health professionals can
help connect you to more
comprehensive campus
resources if they are
necessary for you,”
Hood said.
Vander Wal said the
platform is reaching
underserved student
populations. He said that
so far, 41% of the students
who have accessed
it identify as Black,
Indigenous or people of
color 5% as transgender
or nonbinary.
He also said Togetherall
is reaching students who
are at higher risk; 12%
of users do not have any
other form of support
and 60% of users are not
seeking any formal mental
health support otherwise.
Another group
Togetherall is helping to
educate is the Greek life
community.
Vander Wal said the
Counseling Center often
partners with the Office
of Fraternity and Sorority
Life to provide training
regarding topics like
mental health and suicide
prevention.
Dobbs said Wellness
Week is another way the
SGA promotes mental
health awareness among
students. Last semester’s
Wellness Week focused on
stress and mental health
during exam preparation
season.
Wellness Week usually
occurs toward the end of
the semester, and Dobbs
said another one will take
place this spring.
Mae Farmer, a senior
majoring in accounting
and psychology and
the 2023 Homecoming
queen, wrote in an email
that Togetherall builds
community among
CW / Susan Xiao
students.
As Homecoming queen,
Farmer’s platform focused
on suicide prevention and
mental health.
“We all know college is
difficult, but sometimes
it can be hard to talk
aloud about things we are
struggling with,” Farmer
said.
Farmer said she hopes
mental health awareness
will increase on campus
as students continue to
utilize and heal through
Togetherall.
Almost
600
students have used the
platform within
the last year
41%
of students who accessed
Togetherall are Black,
Indigenous or
people of color
— Greg Vander Wal
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