Monthly Archives: March 2015

Confidly

 

 

 

 

http://confidly.com/

Using group blog style chat and the option for one on one chat to discuss sensitive topics anonymously with other members of the public.

Features:

• Anonymous – stay fully anonymous
• Secure – Sign up and password protected
• Chat Privately – Find people and chat through private messages
• Remove Negativity – Block users you do not like
• Report Abuse – Report abusive content
• Lock your worry – prevent users from posting further opinions
• Say thank you – use the thank you button when a comment makes you happy

Uses:

• To share secrets and met people with similar stories
• When you feel lonely and need someone to speak to
• As a self-help tool
• To reduce panic and stress when you feel there is no one around you to speak to

Common Topics:

• Dating and relationships
• Marital issues and counselling
• Emotional abuse
• Eating disorders
• Personal development or self-help
• Financial issues
• Loss and grief
• Mental health
• Addictive behaviours

Chatter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.chatter-app.com/

Find people nearby to chat with anonymously, using GPS its shows how far away the other people are.

Features:

• Anonymous chat
• Area based – chat with people near you
• Connections are referred to as buddies with the ability to keep up chat with them without being near them
• Can create group chats

Uses:

• When you feel lonely and need someone to speak to
• To get to meet new people in an area near you

Common Topics:

• General conversation to make friends

Whisper

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://whisper.sh/

Uses images with short passages of text imprinted on them to communicate.

Features:

• See secrets anonymously posted by people near you
• Ability to add school, college or university to see secrets posted by classmates
• Create your own whispers
• Private messaging between users
• Respond to other peoples whispers anonymously
• Browse whispers on topics that interest you

Uses:

• To share secrets
• As a self-help tool
• Engage with people in similar situation

Common Topics:

• Dating and relationships
• Pregnancy
• Children
• LGBTQ

In the media:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/16/-sp-revealed-whisper-app-tracking-users

Agonyapp

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.agonyapp.com/

An anonymous relationship advice app, modern day agony aunt where you can be the person asking the question or helping to assist other people.

Features:

• Start and join conversations anonymously or as yourself
• Share your problems
• Have you problems answered to in real-time
• Use images or videos to express yourself
• Vote on comments
• Browse through people problems for topics relevant to you

Uses:

• Discuss issues with people in similar situations
• Be part of the community that can help you with your personal problems

Common topics:

• Relationships
• Family
• Friends
• Sex
• Marriage
• Health and Beauty
• LGBT
• Teen
• Parenting
• Life

In the media:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2521377/Agonyapp-new-app-answers-relationship-woes.html

Canary

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://canaryapp.net/

Anonymous company chat, share insider news, thoughts and rumours with your co-workers.

Features:

• My Company: a specific area to discuss with other employees from the same place of work
• Popular: Most popular posts currently on the application
• Following: Comments made from any other users that you have chosen to follow

Uses:

• Only verified co-workers can create posts in your company timeline
• Follow and comment on the inner workings of other companies
• See what tending across companies

Common Topics:

• Insider news
• Thoughts and rumours

In the media:

http://recode.net/2014/11/10/anonymous-app-canary-is-all-about-inter-office-gossip/

Application to Trustpal

All of the applications above all show aspects that will be included in our application Trustpal. They show that there is a requirement for such an application as all of these applications have received positive reviews. Proving there is a benefit to anonymous chat applications, this benefit could be utilised by the University by creating the TrustPal app. Allowing students to confide in trained individuals about any issues or worries they may currently be dealing with, without having to talk face to face or over the phone with someone.

Since our project is aimed at University of Southampton students (with the possibility of extending to other universities in the future), looking at what services are already provided by the University help understand what students already have access to, and what might be lacking.

 

The University of Southampton provides a variety of services for students meant to help with a wide variety of issues and concerns [1]:

– Enabling services: this is the counseling service provided on campus which has a professional team of qualified individuals trained in a variety of areas; besides classic individual counseling, it provides drop-in sessions between 1PM and 3PM every day during term time, and on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during holidays; groups and workshops on wellbeing, stress management, mindfulness etc.; self-help materials and support webpags [2]

– Nighline: part of the national Nighline project, it is a calling service where students can talk to volunteers about their problems; the Nighline volunteers are also students who have been trained for the position, but are not professionals; students can call between 8pm and 8am, and they can call for free from halls of residence; this service is intended for students. [3]

– The Advice Centre: free, independent and confidential advice; students can come in to talk about their problems; semi-qualified staff. [4]

– Residence Support: available for students living in halls of residence; offers general guidance for new students, such as help with halls life, university life, exams help, but also support with issues and other difficulties; since they have no training for health or emergency problems they will contact the relevant services on behalf of the student; they can be reached though email, phone or in person since there is someone from Residence support at every halls, between 6pm and 8am every day throughout term-time. [5]

– Peer Support: similar to Nighline, but students can arrange to meet volunteers in person (who are also students); they can meet anywhere on campus at any time, generally for one session but there is no restriction to continuing for several sessions; it provides an informal opportunity to talk abut issues and concerns. [6]

 

Besides the university provided services, on the official university mental health and wellbeing website [1] there are several external resources provided:
– Steps 2 Wellbeing, a group counseling service provided by NHS; it also provides an E-Clinic for all participants where they can get individual counseling online (either video call or message) [7] [8]

– italk: an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service, sponsored in part by NHS, together with [9]

– Solent Mind: Hampshire’s largest volunteering organization for mental health support, which is available to Hampshire residents; it provided telephone counseling [10]

– SAM app: a mobile application which helps people track and manage their anxiety [11]

– NHS 111, a service for when you need immediate help but it is not a life-threatening situation [12]

– Accident and Emergency department, which should be visited is the person has any intentions for self-harm or suicide or cause harm to others [13]

– The Samaritans [14]

Out of all the services provided and recommended by the university, only three of them provide methods of getting in contact without calling or going in person: Residence support which can be emailed, the E-Clinic provided by NHS within Steps to Wellbeing and the SAM app. Furthermore, neither the emails to Residence support or E-Clinic guarantee a fast reply. Services are also limited outside term-time. Some points which should be considered when looking into ways of improving the services for students are:

– phone calls cost (except if a student calls Nightline from a halls of residence);

– some individuals might not feel comfortable calling; verbally expressing one’s concerns can be challenging;

– it can be difficult to get the correct phone number for a service without internet access or on mobile devices;

– provide suitable support outside term-time.

 

Application to TrustPal

There is a gap in the services provided by the university, namely the lack of any services where students can write (text, message) rather than call or physically go to. A writing-based wellbeing application such as TrustPal, whether mobile or as a website, would eliminate the costs of phone calls, would provide more anonymity, and would make students who are not comfortable calling or going in person to a service more likely to use it and get help or support. Additionally, it will remain on their device, while phone numbers can be easily lost unless they are saved. A mobile application or website can also remain functional outside term-time, or throughout the day, which would improve on the poor accessibility of services outside term-time, and it has the added benefit that it can be used regardless of location as long as there is some form of Internet connection (such as from other countries, in which case calling can cost more).

 

 

Resources:

[1] University of Southampton Mental Health and Wellbeing website, http://www.southampton.ac.uk/edusupport/mental_health_and_wellbeing/index.page

[2] Enabling Services website, http://www.southampton.ac.uk/edusupport/index.page?

[3] Nightline, http://nightline.susu.org/

[4] SUSU Advice Centre, https://www.susu.org/help-and-support/advice-centre/2015/index.html

[5] Residence Support, https://www.southampton.ac.uk/accommodation/halls/supportingyou.html

[6] Peer Support, https://www.susu.org/help-and-support/peer-support/2013/index.html

[7] Steps 2 Wellbeing, http://www.steps2wellbeing.co.uk/

[8] Talking Sense, E-Clinic part of Steps 2 Wellbeing, http://dorset.talkingsense.org/

[9] iTalk, https://www.italk.org.uk/

[10] Solent Mind, http://www.solentmind.org.uk/

[11] SAM mobile application, http://sam-app.org.uk/

[12] NHS 111, http://www.nhs.uk/nhsengland/aboutnhsservices/emergencyandurgentcareservices/pages/nhs-111.aspx

[13] NHS Accident and Emergency Department, http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/Emergencyandurgentcareservices/Pages/AE.aspx

[14] The Samaritans, http://www.samaritans.org/