‘GetFranck’ Launches Mental Health App To Reduce Rising Suicide Rates In South Africa
‘GetFranck’ Launches Mental Health App To Reduce Rising Suicide Rates In South Africa. Globally, a staggering 800,000 suicides occur every year. In South Africa, a person commits suicide every 40 minutes. As part of Mental Health Awareness Month which takes place every October, Franck, has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, to raise enough funds to make professional mental health services available to 10,000 people in South Africa who do not have access to treatment.
“70% of the global population have access to a mobile phone, only 47% have access to running water. Utilizing mobile phones and digital innovation is the surest way to address the Mental Health crisis and intervene effectively for change.” says Eidde Francke, CEO of GetFranck. Through digital innovation, Franck is able to offer instant and always-on emergency assistance to people in Mental Health Crisis, offer self-help tools to guide them through Mental Health challenges, and connect them with a countrywide network of Mental Health Practitioners for both online and in-person consultation.
Franck also offers a next-generation Artificial Intelligence Mental Health Chatbot that can find and guide individuals in natural text exchanges on their Mental Health help journey, regardless of the mental or emotional space they are in. By donating R299 to the “Hey, I’m here” campaign on BackaBuddy, people can give a single person access to mental health assistance and companionship for an entire year. Franck has partnered with Lovestruck Philanthropy NPC to distribute the Franck Apps with a formal sign-up or nomination process to individuals, organizations and communities facing Mental Health difficulties. The Franck App and its Mental Health infrastructure and assistance is available and active instantly.
“Mental health, ÍS health. If it is not you, it is someone you know. You or they may not know what to do – Franck knows. Let Franck help those you can’t help.” says Eidde Francke, CEO – GetFranck. Since the launch of the BackaBuddy campaign, more than R16 000 has been raised thus far with kind contributions from 11 donors, which means 53 individuals can already access the platform.
