Councils team up to bring mental health support to young people

Tayside’s three councils have joined forces to bring a 24-hour mental health support service to the region.

Togetherall is aimed at young people aged from 16 to 24 and will be accessible seven days a week around the clock.

It is estimated that one in four people will suffer with mental health problems at some point in their lives.

Dundee, Angus, and Perth and Kinross councils have worked together to bring the anonymous service to the region, which launches today.

Togetherall is manned by trained professionals offering a choice of therapeutic services, including online self-help courses.

It has already helped more than 200,000 people elsewhere in the UK.

To use the service, visit togetherall.com and click the register tab and select the “My area is registered” option and enter your postcode.

New users are then asked to create a username that does not identify them in anyway.

Henry Jones, Togetherall chief executive, said he was “delighted” to bring extra support to young adults in the Tayside region.

He added: “It has no doubt been a challenging year for our mental health and young people have been particularly impacted by uncertainty about their future which has seen anxiety levels increase over the past few months.

“Our community is here to support them 24/7, 365 days a year.”

Councillor Stewart Hunter, children and families convener in Dundee, said: “The impact of lockdown and the pandemic has been tough for the mental health of our young people.

“This is an example of the way that we can work together to provide innovative services across the wider area.

“We will be making sure that as many of them as possible in Dundee know about Togetherall.”

Angus Council children and learning convener Councillor Derek Wann said: “It’s essential we support young people experiencing mental health concerns through early advice and support.”

“Uncertain futures and increased anxiety levels