New App iRel8 Aims to Break the Stigma Surrounding Mental Illness
This is a different direction than my usual cyber security and tech tips blog posts. While their are many topics to cover in those alone, I want to broaden my blogging horizons and occasionally provide other tech news. I want to focus especially on tech news that can improve lives, perhaps even save a life. This post is one of them, I hope you enjoy.
Breaking the Stigma...
Anxiety and other mental illnesses arguably carry one of the largest stigmas compared to other illnesses. 40 million Americans (1 in 5) have a mental illness according to Mental Health America, and 56% of them for one reason or another have not found the help they have needed. Some will argue this is an access to care and resources issue. Many mental health professionals also believe the stigma behind mental illness keeps folks from seeking help. A new app, iRel8 aims to shatter the stigma surrounding mental illness. The info graphic courtesy of Mental Health America shows some more staggering stats about mental health.
iRel8 hopes to shatter this stigma by helping those with problems and providing a confidential and safe forum to chat with others in similar situations (source: iRel8.org). The app is a chat program that anonymously pairs you with other individuals with similar situations in a no judgement zone. With iRel8, you can seek help from peers, or be a mentor to someone in need.
iRel8 Features
- A safe “judgement free zone” for mental illness sufferers.
- A series of rooms broken down to specific mental illnesses.
- Anonymous individual messaging to reach out to peers in similar situations.
- A group chat feature to chat with a group of peers
In Conclusion...
In an increasingly connected world, we still lack the necessary resources to combat mental illness as well as the stigma that surrounds it. If this app can help one person and perhaps even save one life, then it’s already a success.
Even if you don’t suffer from mental illness, why not give iRel8 a try? Maybe you can mentor folks and make their lives better. I call on Bill Withers to conclude this article in his song Lean on Me, “You just call on me brother, when you need a hand. We all need somebody to lean on.” You never know when that person next to you needs someone to lean on.
Have a great day and until next time…
Jason
© Copyright Mental Health America
Useful Links
- A new app aims to shatter the stigma surrounding mental health – Microsoft
- iRel8 Website
- The State of Mental Health in America – Mental Health America
- Garrett County Health Department – Local Resource
