ShareWell peer support fills the gap when talk therapy and friends are not enough

The global mental health crisis has reached critical levels and the lack of mental health professionals worldwide means many people lack proper access to treatment or care. Today, we are excited to announce the new ShareWell peer support membership that will bridge the gap in mental health care by connecting people in a safe, virtual environment for mutual support and healing. 

Depression and anxiety have increased over 25% since the pandemic and yet 77% of Americans live in counties with a shortage of mental health care. Furthermore, the cost of talk therapy is prohibitive to a large population. ShareWell addresses this growing need in mental health care by providing an immersive peer support solution at an accessible price point.  

Peer support offers unique benefits that therapy and talking to friends cannot provide. The non-hierarchical nature of support groups gives everyone a sense of belonging and allows participants to feel accepted as they are. Peer support can also improve friendships by taking the burden of support off of friendships where two parties may not have a shared experience. Online peer support further offers anonymity that allows members to feel safe sharing personal stories.

ShareWell Founder & CEO, CeCe Cheng, says “Peer support is about feeling connected to other people and realizing you are not alone in what you’re going through. This increases self-worth, hopefulness and provides a safe space for people to learn from each other. At ShareWell, 90% of our members report feeling happier immediately after a session and 92% wish to attend more than 2 sessions a week, showing us that peer support has become an integral part of our members’ mental health and self-care regime.”

The ShareWell peer support membership is $10/month and provides access to an unlimited number of live, virtual peer support groups each week – that’s unlimited peer support for a whole year for less than the average cost of 1 therapy session. The ShareWell membership is the most affordable and effective mental health solution on the market and brings the company one step closer to fulfilling their mission of supporting the world when they need it, where they need it.  

ShareWell

ShareWell is a new-age mental health company disrupting teletherapy through peer support. The company is the first to provide a peer-to-peer solution to the mental health crisis by connecting everyday people to each other for mutual support and healing in a safe, virtual environment. ShareWell offers a peer support membership that provides unlimited access to live support groups and a digital community platform. The company’s vision is to create a world where everyone has access to the support they need, when they need it. The company was launched in October 2021 and founded by CeCe Cheng, a former venture capitalist, startup executive and executive coach. 

Healthy social connection is critical to mental health yet 61% of Americans today report feeling lonely and isolated. While social media seems to offer an outlet for connection, studies show that social networks have had a paradoxical effect on loneliness with the percentage of young adults reporting being lonely nearly doubling from 2012 to 2018. Peer support cures loneliness by giving participants not only social interaction but a sense of purpose and agency. 

According to Dr. Stephanie Cacioppo, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at the University of Chicago, “The best thing you can do for someone who is lonely is not to give them help but ask them for help.”