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Would you know if you were depressed, or would you find a way to explain away your symptoms? And, if you realize that something more serious than a blue mood was at play, would you reach out for help? Can you afford it?
For most South Africans, the answer to these questions is ‘no’ – which is precisely why Barbara Ayissi was moved to create Puzzle of My Life, an online mental health service.
Barbara was part of the human resources team at a large multinational company when she realized the need for such a service. “We had recently implemented a wellness programme but, although access was free, takeup was very low,” Barbara explains. Just why this should be the case wasn’t immediately apparent. After all, with one in four people suffering from mental illness, South Africans feel a definite need for connection. The problem, Barbara guessed, was that many were put off by the idea that people would know they had reached out. “There is a definite stigma around mental illness,” she points out.
Taking inspiration from online dating sites, Barbara realized the potential of online counselling; a service that would enable people to get the help they need while remaining discreet. After all, since we are accustomed to going online for whatever we need, it’s not a big stretch to seek a counsellor in cyberspace.
I got to speak to her about this and more, listen here:
Puzzle of My Life was initially intended as a gateway; an introduction to counselling that helps people understand the process and make them feel more comfortable with asking for help. It has evolved since its first iteration, however: since security is obviously a key issue when dealing with an issue as sensitive as mental health, Barbara approached IBM to help her develop a Minimal Viable Product which ensures utter confidentiality.
The product now caters to corporate as well as individual clients. After signing on to the platform, corporate clients are asked to indicate their employer before being assigned a counsellor from those selected by the company. Individuals, on the other hand, are asked a series of questions so that Puzzle of My Life can match them to an appropriate candidate from its 200-strong team of social workers, counselling psychologists, registered counsellors and clinical psychologists.
Puzzle of My Life offers a range of packages, priced from R99. The platform is offering free Covid-19 counselling during the pandemic. Visit puzzleofmylife.co.za for further information.
Press release and image from - GrapeVine Communications