The brief type: Singles who have been clinically determined to have a mental illness may feel anxious about signing up for a broad bondage dating site and worry that they could possibly be evaluated, harassed, or rejected because of their condition. These singles often feel separated and despair of meeting an individual who understands whatever theyare going through. That is one thing Jim Leftwich attempt to alter as he founded NoLongerLonely.com, a niche dating internet site for males and women with mental health problems. Since 2004, No Longer Lonely has built a major international area for singles who’ve been diagnosed with schizophrenia, manic depression, PTSD, OCD, and various other mental health conditions — because just who more straightforward to understand what you are going right through than a person who’s experienced it, as well? Over the years, not any longer Lonely has facilitated many friendships, relationships, and marriages by offering a secure place in which people with mental illness tend to be welcomed versus stigmatized.

Share

Jim Leftwich knows what it’s love to struggle with a mental disease. He was diagnosed with schizoaffective condition as a new man, and contains used many years of treatment for him locate stability within his existence. He’s got held it’s place in a psychiatric medical facility, lived-in halfway property, and worked their long ago to good mental health so that now he could be a self-supporting, semi-retired director of a college library.

He might have stumbled in the beginning, but the guy didn’t try to let their diagnosis end him from obtaining his targets. In reality, Jim does not think a mental ailment should stand-in how of anyone pursuing glee, security, and love within schedules. He is managed to get their objective to challenge the stigma around mental disease and empower people to overcome their particular individual challenges, especially in the personal arena.

In 2004, Jim changed the matchmaking landscape for singles like themselves — that will be, singles who have been clinically determined to have a mental disease — by starting a niche dating site when it comes down to emotionally ill. It absolutely was the initial dating platform to entirely focus on this underserved populace in matchmaking world, and it also garnered mass media attention from CNN, Huffington Post, the fresh new York Times, and Narratively.

“I’ve been endowed with a data recovery that most folks do not achieve,” Jim told united states. “today I just wish to help more and more people and deliver them a message of empowerment. Mental disease isn’t something which should keep you straight back.”

NoLongerLonely.com has actually 22,000+ people and is the leading matchmaking platform for mentally sick individuals across the world. Any person clinically determined to have a mental ailment can join the dating site free-of-charge and find out what the online community is about. This site links those that have already been identified as having schizophrenia, manic depression, OCD, character condition, PTSD, and numerous additional mental illnesses because these people can associate with the other person’s experiences

Spend a Two-Week Free Trial Exploring the Supportive Community

It does not are priced at almost anything to create a profile on not Lonely. The dating site actually offers a two-week free trial offer regarding people, so you’re able to check out about to get a sense of just how every thing works before getting a membership program.

Jim stated you need to him that their members feel they truly are acquiring a beneficial value from site. “i would like them to state, ‘That ended up being an effective expense,'” the guy informed united states. No further Lonely has actually three membership programs — a one-month, three-month, and lifetime. About 60percent of people choose the life time program because they’re thinking about playing the extended video game and putting in the time it can take to discover the proper person.

The sign-up procedure begins on a helpful note by offering profile design ideas, such as how exactly to create an attention-grabbing title and why you’ll want to tell the truth about what you are considering.

From that point, its a pretty regular put-in-your-email and choose-a-username procedure. When you are creating the profile, you’ll choose to reveal the top, weight, and your own bio, and you may additionally fill-in elective areas to suit your transport, working standing, and living circumstance. People may choose to discuss their unique medical diagnosis as well should they want.

No more Lonely promotes clear dating profiles with detailed information. Members can permit individuals know upfront if they are living in area 8 housing or suffer from schizophrenia. Not Lonely desires singles feeling safe making reference to their own individual situations and health. It isn’t really some filthy key, maybe not right here. You don’t have to include an image to your profile to look at website and send messages. However, users with profile images are often more lucrative on dating sites because they look more legitimate.

When you have obtained your own profile squared out, you are able to browse lists of people that happen to be on the web today, members remembering birthdays, and brand new members, or they can carry out an in depth look by sex, get older, analysis, and location to obtain a compatible person on the webpage. Not Lonely has also a live chat place in which users can mix and socialize anonymously. “Your chat space will be the coolest,” stated Michael, exactly who lives in limited town in Montana. “The pals I’ve fulfilled on NoLongerLonely.com make the bad days a great deal much better.”

“I just be sure to generate a sense of community,” Jim mentioned. “Many online dating sites are unpassioned, so I try making it a more personal thing. You are sure that, I’m exactly like you, and I also run your website.”

Prioritizing safety & Giving customers Peace of Mind

Singles that have a mental disease certainly involve some bookings about uploading their own personal data on the internet, particularly a dating internet site. That is why Jim is out of his solution to make sure don’t Lonely is actually a protected, safe, and personal location to it’s the perfect time and date. The guy fosters an amiable, judgment-free environment in which people don’t have to be concerned about artificial profiles or spammer spiders.

“The security associated with the site is actually a premier top priority for me personally,” Jim mentioned. “I take fantastic treatment in examining all incoming users and keeping fraudsters away from right here.”

“i came across the maximum man i possibly could ever expect you’ll fulfill about website… we’re getting married subsequent spring.” — Laura, a No Longer Lonely individual

Jim informed us he monitors internet protocol address address contact information and displays profile content material assure everybody else on no further Lonely can there be for the right explanations.

No Longer Lonely could be the oldest and largest dating internet site for grownups with mental disease, and possesses remained functional and profitable for so long as a result of the conscientious oversight who has kept it free of abusive language and harmful behaviors. People know they can trust this system to protect their unique info and provide a friendly ecosystem where they may be able satisfy people who communicate comparable existence encounters.

Inspiring Countless relations & 40+ Marriages

Not everyone else believes to publish to a matchmaking program when they’ve met somebody and wandered down inside sunset collectively, but Jim stated they have heard from some couples just who said they met and began online dating as a result of his website. The guy estimated that not any longer Lonely has resulted in over 40 marriages, and then he hopes growing that quantity in the long run.

Going past just dating, no further Lonely has created an on-line area in which individuals with mental disease are able to find all sorts of social connections. Whether they wanna release throughout the boards or flirt in a private cam, the dating internet site allows men and women to conveys on their own (provided they use proper vocabulary) without fear of wisdom.

A lot of not any longer depressed consumers (around 70%) are now living in the usa, although website has also people in 44 other countries, most notably the UK, Canada, and Australia. Jim stated members occasionally form international relationships and long-distance connections regarding the platform. The guy informed the storyline of 1 solitary woman which travelled to England to meet up with men who struggled with a social anxiety. They’d experienced contact for months before deciding they thought comfortable conference personally and having their unique relationship to the next level.

Online dating can offer people who have mental illness a non-intimidating option to explore their dating choices and connect with men and women across the world. Real limits and mental blocks do not need to restrict love on no more Lonely.

“Absolutely a luxury to online dating somebody who has experienced similar circumstances,” Jim said. “i am combating contrary to the mentality that is loaded against united states.”

No more Lonely delivers a strengthening Message

Over many years, Jim makes a reputation for himself as a master in a distinct segment online dating room. Don’t Lonely began once the enthusiasm project of someone exactly who understands the difficulties faced by people with mental disease — and today the web society contains thousands of energetic users. By giving quick, trustworthy, and targeted online dating resources, Jim aids singles on the road to great mental health.

“everybody’s lovable. Everyone has some one available to you on their behalf.” — Jim Leftwich, Founder of Not Lonely

The mission of don’t Lonely is right truth be told there during the name. The market dating site encourages singles with emotional health problems to locate convenience, solidarity, and love in a secure space built to satisfy their needs. Its free to join the online dating network and work out good strides toward the kind of existence need — and the form of love you deserve.

“It really is best that you have companionship and look for love,” Jim said. “simply because you’ve been identified as having a mental illness, that doesn’t mean you aren’t able to appreciating every thing everybody else does.”