~ 335+ users spoke candidly about love, loneliness and mental Health ~
Leading real-life dating app happn has joined forces with The Alternative Story, a pioneering mental health organisation, to introduce an awe-inspiring initiative: #SundaySharingSessions. As part of this collaboration, happn will provide its users with free counselling chat sessions, offering a safe space to discuss various topics, including digital dating nuances, identifying red flags, practising self-love, and coping with emotional burnout.
In the two impactful #SundaySharingSessions held to date, the collaboration executed over 335 counselling sessions. While the conversations were completely confidential, the therapists revealed the major concerns of singles- ranging from mental health to society expectations, guilt and other dating dilemmas.
The sessions revealed compelling insights into the challenges faced by users, such as the loneliness experienced by those living away from home for work or studies and the associated struggles of building new connections. Women participating in the sessions candidly shared their expectations for finding the right partner, shedding light on the pressures they feel from their families regarding marriage and stable relationships.
Expressing her enthusiasm about this collaboration, Karima Ben Abdelmalek, CEO and President of happn, commented, “At happn, we recognize the importance of fostering a supportive community for our users beyond the realm of dating. Our partnership with The Alternative Story reflects our commitment to addressing the holistic well-being of our users. By offering free counselling chat sessions, we aim to create a sanctuary where individuals can seek guidance and support as they navigate the intricate landscape of online dating.“
Rashi Vidyasagar, Director, The Alternative Story emphasised, “Being authentic in a dating space is a daunting and emotionally overwhelming task for most people. Our mission is to provide accessible services to people who need it. And that’s how happn’s vision of fostering authentic connections aligns with ours. Through this collaboration we hope to create spaces of empathy, and care that in turn will foster open dialogue, offer support and empower people to make mental health a priority in this new year.”
#SundaySharingSessions is on for another two weeks, till the 4th of February ‘24. Users can log on to https://alternativestory.in/happn/ and chat with professional therapists, every Sunday from 8-10pm.
