“Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary.” ~ Fred Rogers
Mental health issues still ignite a sense of stigma amidst Indians despite a great public discourse that has started within the past few years. It makes it extremely difficult for people dealing with problems like anxiety, depression, and other such problems to seek support and start on a recovery path. Realising this, 23-year-old Muskaan Karanwal started a unique platform, called TlkOut in 2020, to develop a virtual community that offers peer support and wellness solutions in a non-judgemental and empathetic environment.
Turning Experience Into Motivation
Muskaan admits that TlkOut budded from her own experience of dealing with poor mental health. She says, “Growing up and even until late teens, I was practically unaware of the importance of mental health and didn’t really know anything beyond depression. But when I started struggling myself, in an attempt to better understand my emotions, I started reading up and eventually became a mental health advocate.”
She launched TlkOut with an aim to ensure that no one ever has to suffer alone. Available as an app, on iOS and Android systems, the platform aims to start a healthy conversation about mental health by bridging the gap of those who have struggled with those who are currently struggling.
Some of the trending communities on the app are anxiety, finding happiness, developing body positivity, heartbreak, loneliness and many more. The platform provides both options of interacting in a group set up as well as in a private chat set up.
“To ensure a wholesome experience, we provide daily wellness tips and tricks as well as have a feature of a guided journal to allow the users to better manage their various moods like happiness, sadness, nervousness, anger etc.,” Muskaan elaborates.
Building A Strong Community
The app works on a freemium model, allowing users to access premium features for guided mental health support at affordable prices. The app is available for Android as well as iOS users. The monthly subscription starts as low as Rs 249 a month.
This has led to the strong popularity of the platform among the people. The app has also launched a new service called “Supportive Expressions” through which it will provide participants a week of therapist guided support via factual and accurate reading material, daily exercises and access to a group of people with similar experiences.
“In the near future, we plan on making Supportive Expressions a weekly affair. We also plan on going for funding and then expand our mobile application to include CBT based tools, regular mentoring and wellness sessions and on-boarding more mental health professionals to provide in-house therapy at an affordable cost. Moreover, we also intend on starting our retail line in the future to offer wellness products,” Muskaan highlights.
To know more, visit-
Website link: https://www.tlkout.com/
Android app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tlkout
Ios app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tlkout/id1535582128
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tlkout/
Form for the support groups:https://forms.gle/mVNUxMhKKC8Vcz2B8
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