Accessing teenage mental health support on demand MeeToo enables young people with mental health issues to help themselves and help others, co-founder Suzi Godson tells Healthcare World Editor Sarah Cartledge
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ince the start of the pandemic, mental health issues have become increasingly talked about. Recently there have been news stories about young people developing nervous tics since the advent of COVID, adding to the stress around their education problems as a result of school closures. Fortunately there is help at hand in the form of an app called MeeToo, developed by Suzi Godson and her business partner 44
Dr Kerstyn Comley. Suzi, the sex and relationships columnist for the Times newspaper, found her inbox increasingly filled with questions from teenagers who were either embarrassed or who wanted some form of distance while searching for answers to typical adolescent problems. “Young people tend to have all sorts of anxieties and we felt the best way to descale them was through interacting with peers in a safe environment,” Suzi says.
“I realised a long time ago that the best solution was a digital one where they can safely get advice, not from experts but from each other.” The MeeToo app allows them to talk anonymously about difficult things with other people of a similar age or experience. They can access help with their problems or use their experiences to support others. The app is a safe space where all posts and replies are checked before going live, so there is no harassment, bullying or grooming. Understanding the teenage brain Providing 365 day support, the app is beginning to remove the stigma around mental health issues that still prevents those suffering from seeking reassurance. “Teenagers use it anonymously so they
