A web site being offered in the region to people struggling with mental health challenges aims to fill a gap for people seeking information and assistance while waiting to see a professional face to face.
Fred Wagner, executive director of the Waterloo Wellington chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association said the Big White Wall is a web-based platform offering anonymous, non-crisis self help for people with mental health and addictions issues.
“What it allows people to do is access a site where they can chat with the people that are experiencing the issues they are going through. They can share their own journey, they can access all kinds of material — articles that provide techniques, information, tools on how to address things like depression and anxiety,” said Wagner.
The web site is monitored 24-hours a day, seven-days a week and the moderators, called ‘wall guides’, can refer users to local services or point them in the direction of additional online help.
“It’s an effort to provide people some resource while they are maybe waiting for service. Rather than opening a week or month or longer writing to get connected with somebody, there’s a way now to get some information and support. For some people, that may be all that they need, but for others they are learning some things that can be of help to them before they get to see somebody face to face,” said Wagner.
The project began in the United Kingdom, said Wagner, and has also been adopted in countries like Australia and New Zealand before being offered in Canada.
Users can write on virtual ‘bricks’ to share their thoughts or experiences.
The site is a virtual representation of an actual white brick wall that existed in England, said Wagner.
“People started writing on these bricks because there was going to be renovations to the housing project. It became quite a powerful way for people to convey their experience and what they are going through,” he said.
The service began servicing the region last Tuesday, said Wagner, and local users have began to use it.
People looking to access the site can receive an access code by calling the here 24/7 crisis line at 1-844-437-3247 for a referral.
The internet is offering a way for users to access mental health information and knowledge, said Wagner.
“We are hoping that this is just the start and there will be other tools that we’ll be able to come forth with that will be of greater help too,” he said.
