Big White Wall (BWW)

Description:

Big White Wall (BWW) provides a SupportNetwork, GuidedSupport and LiveTherapy. The SupportNetwork provides anonymous peer and community support, facilitated by trained and supervised staff and clinicians, who are online 24/7. The service utilises the principles of social networking and members can access self testing and a wide range of explanatory and self help materials, art and writing therapies, psycho-educational and self-help groups. GuidedSupport can also be run for individuals and groups, led by staff counsellors or therapists. Additionally, BWW offers real time LiveTherapy from accredited, experienced therapists, including cognitive-behavioural therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, person-centred counselling and integrative counselling. Access to all of the services is restricted to members and there is a fee to join (except for areas in which BWW is provided free by the NHS and for members of the UK Armed Forces Community).

Service URL:

http://www.bigwhitewall.com

Agency Responsible:

Big White Wall & Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust: Combination. Partnership between a profit-making organisation and not-for-profit public benefit corporation

Details

Format:

Other. SupportNetwork, GuidedSupport and LiveTherapy

Size Of Membership:

Approximately 10,000 in October 2012

Start Date:

2007

Moderation Status:

Moderated.

Moderation Type:

Other. Moderated by ‘Wall Guides’ who are trained counsellors who receive weekly training and regular supervision from the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust

Associated Website Intervention:

Members can access a wealth of mental health information and take clinical tests on the BWW site.

Accreditation Status:

Accredited. Accredited via the The Tavistock and Portman Foundation Trust (TPFT) Clinical Governance Framework. TPFT has an excellent rating from the UK governing body for care services (the Care Quality Council)

Funding Source:

Private. Through membership fees. NHS providers fund membership for local UK residents, universities/colleges purchase services and BWW’s support services are free to members of the UK Armed Forces, Veterans and their families.

Target Audience

Primary Categories:

Depression, Stress and Generalised anxiety disorder. Also PTSD

Primary Target Audiences:

Adult and Young Adult. 16 years +

Secondary Target Audience:

Consumer.

Language:

English.

Access

Registration Requirement:

Closed: registration required.

Fee:

Fee-based. BWW is free to join for individuals who live in certain parts of the UK, and free for members of the UK Armed Forces Community. Everybody else has to pay a small subscription fee. LiveTherapy sessions are paid for separately.

Contact Details:

theteam@bigwhitewall.com

Research evidence

Research Trials:

1

Outcome Summary:

An initial feasibility study of BWW involved 24 users randomly allocated to one of three conditions with access to different components of BWW. Across the sample, there was a significant reduction in reported levels of both depression and anxiety - with an indication recovery was greatest among users with access to therapist-facilitated group therapy plus access to the main site.

Additionally, BWW commissioned an independent (but not peer reviewed) review of its services in 2009. This study found that three quarters of respondents had never shared the issues they raised on BWW with anyone else. Furthermore, more than nine in ten respondents reported improved mental wellbeing as a result of their experience on BWW, including enhanced self-understanding and reduced isolation as well as lower levels of stress and depression.

Further independent trials of BWW are underway at two major UK universities, and the results will be available in due course.

Research Paper Citations

Lemma, A. and Fonagy, P. (2012) Feasibility study of a psychodynamic online group intervention for depression. Psychoanalytic Psychology [ahead of print]

Details of BWW independent review can be found on the website:
http://www.bigwhitewall.com/info/research-and-outcomes/