HALIFAX, N.S. – Nova Scotia youth aged 16 and older in need of mental health help can now access the Togetherall online mental health platform.

The Nova Scotia Department of Health said Wednesday that the free service is a secure, anonymous peer-to-peer online community hosted by registered clinical practitioners and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Entrants must include their postal code or student email address.

“So many Nova Scotians can benefit from access to online mental health support services like Togetherall,” said Addictions and Mental Health Minister Brian Comer.

“This tool is about having a community to help people build resilience or deal with a specific life challenge. By making this tool available to more Nova Scotians, we are expanding that community. and promote positive mental health.

Previously, the platform was available to youth ages 16-29 through a year-long partnership with RBC Future Launch, the QEII Foundation and Nova Scotia Health. The program was also offered to post-secondary students and apprentices aged 30 and over under an agreement with the Ministry of Higher Education.

The service, also available in French, can be accessed online at togetherall.com/en-ca/accessing-mental-health-support/nova-scotia-referrals/.