The Short Version: Singles who may have been identified as having a mental illness may suffer stressed about joining an over-all dating internet site and worry they could possibly be evaluated, harassed, or denied because of their situation. These singles typically feel separated and despair of meeting an individual who knows what they’re going through. Which is one thing Jim Leftwich set out to alter as he launched NoLongerLonely.com, a niche dating site for males and females with emotional conditions. Since 2004, No Longer Lonely has generated a global area for singles who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, manic depression, PTSD, OCD, and various other mental health problems â because who more straightforward to determine what you are going right on through than somebody who’s been through it, as well? Through the years, not any longer Lonely has facilitated lots of friendships, connections, and marriages by providing a safe location in which people who have mental illness are welcomed in the place of stigmatized.
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Jim Leftwich understands what it’s always have trouble with a mental disease. He had been clinically determined to have schizoaffective disorder as a young man, and has now taken numerous years of treatment for him to acquire stability inside the life. He’s got been in a psychiatric healthcare facility, stayed in halfway casing, and worked his long ago to great psychological state so that now they are a self-supporting, semi-retired manager of a college library.
He may have stumbled at first, but the guy did not try to let their prognosis end him from achieving his goals. In fact, Jim doesn’t believe a mental illness should stand in the way of any individual getting contentment, stability, and love in their physical lives. He is made it his objective to test the stigma around mental illness and empower people to over come their unique personal issues, especially in the social arena.
In 2004, Jim changed the dating landscape for singles like themselves â which, singles who’ve been diagnosed with a mental disease â by initiating a distinct segment dating website when it comes to emotionally ill. It had been the most important relationship program to exclusively target this underserved population during the online lesbian chat dating scene, therefore earned news attention from CNN, Huffington Post, brand new York days, and Narratively.
«I’ve been endowed with a recovery that a lot of individuals you should not achieve,» Jim informed united states. «today i simply wanna help a lot more people and send them an email of empowerment. Mental disease isn’t something that should hold you straight back.»
NoLongerLonely.com features 22,000+ consumers and it is the key dating system for psychologically sick individuals internationally. Anyone clinically determined to have a mental infection can join the dating internet site free of charge and determine what the network is focused on. This site links individuals who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, manic depression, OCD, personality condition, PTSD, and various various other emotional conditions because such people can relate solely to one another’s experiences
Invest a Two-Week trial offer examining the Supportive Community
It does not price almost anything to create a profile on no further Lonely. The dating website also provides a two-week trial offer for all users, to have a look about acquire a sense of exactly how every little thing works before buying a membership strategy.
Jim mentioned it is advisable to him that his users believe they may be obtaining a good worth from the web site. «i’d like these to say, âThat was a great financial investment,'» the guy told us. No further Lonely has actually three membership ideas â a one-month, three-month, and lifetime. Approximately 60per cent of people go for the life time program since they are enthusiastic about playing the extended game and putting in committed it requires to find the right person.
The sign-up procedure begins on a beneficial note through providing profile development tips, such as simple tips to build an attention-grabbing title and why it is critical to be honest about what you are considering.
From that point, it really is a fairly standard put-in-your-email and choose-a-username process. When you’re creating your own profile, you can decide to disclose the top, weight, and an individual bio, and you may additionally fill out optional fields to suit your transport, functioning condition, and living scenario. People may opt to discuss their analysis also if they wish.
No more Lonely encourages clear online dating profiles with detailed information. People can try to let folks understand upfront if they’re staying in Section 8 housing or suffer with schizophrenia. Not any longer Lonely desires singles feeling secure talking about their individual circumstances and health. It’s not some dirty key, perhaps not here. You don’t need to add a picture towards profile to look at website and send communications. However, customers with profile images are often more successful on internet dating sites because they look legitimate.
Once you’ve become your profile squared out, possible search databases of members who will be online now, users remembering birthdays, and brand-new people, or they’re able to perform an in depth search by sex, get older, prognosis, and place discover a suitable individual on the internet site. Not Lonely also offers a live talk space in which people can combine and socialize anonymously. «Your cam area may be the coolest,» stated Michael, exactly who lives in a tiny city in Montana. «The pals I’ve met on NoLongerLonely.com make the poor days a whole lot better.»
«we attempt to make a feeling of area,» Jim said. «Most internet dating sites are unpassioned, and so I try making it a individual thing. You understand, i am like everyone else, and I run the site.»
Prioritizing Security & bringing customers Peace of Mind
Singles who’ve a mental disease unquestionably involve some reservations about posting their private information online, specially a dating website. For this reason Jim fades of his solution to ensure no further Lonely is actually a safe, secure, and exclusive location to make friends and day. He fosters an amiable, judgment-free atmosphere where people don’t need to worry about fake users or spammer spiders.
«the protection associated with web site is a leading top priority for me,» Jim mentioned. «we simply take great treatment in examining all incoming users and keeping fraudsters out of here.»
«I found the best guy i really could ever before be prepared to satisfy with this website⦠we are marriage then springtime.» â Laura, a No further Lonely individual
Jim told us he checks IP tackles and monitors profile content material to ensure everyone on not Lonely is there for the ideal explanations.
No more Lonely may be the oldest and biggest dating website for adults with mental disease, and contains remained working and successful for way too long due to the thorough supervision containing kept it free of abusive vocabulary and damaging actions. People learn they may be able trust this platform to protect their particular information and deliver an amiable ecosystem where they can fulfill people that show similar life experiences.
Inspiring many Relationships & 40+ Marriages
Not everyone thinks to write back again to a relationship platform once they’ve satisfied somebody and stepped off in to the sunset with each other, but Jim stated he has heard from some partners which stated they met and began dating for the reason that his website. He estimated that not any longer Lonely has already triggered over 40 marriages, in which he hopes growing that number over time.
Going beyond merely dating, No Longer Lonely has created an internet community in which people who have mental disease will find all types of interpersonal associations. Whether they like to release in the chatrooms or flirt in a private chat, the dating website enables individuals expresses themselves (so long as they normally use suitable language) without anxiety about view.
A lot of not any longer depressed consumers (around 70%) inhabit the usa, nevertheless the site even offers members in 44 other countries, particularly the UK, Canada, and Australia. Jim said people occasionally form worldwide relationships and long-distance interactions from the system. The guy told the story of 1 single girl which flew to The united kingdomt to satisfy men which struggled with a social anxiety disorder. They would experienced get in touch with for several months before making a decision they felt comfy meeting in person and getting their own link to the next stage.
Internet dating can offer people who have mental illness a non-intimidating way to explore their unique internet dating possibilities and relate solely to people all over the world. Real limits and psychological obstructs don’t need to limit really love on not any longer Lonely.
«there is a luxury to matchmaking someone who has been through comparable things,» Jim said. «i am battling resistant to the mindset that is loaded against united states.»
Not any longer Lonely delivers a strengthening Message
Over many years, Jim made a name for themselves as a master in a niche dating space. Not Lonely started just like the passion project of somebody who knows the difficulties faced by individuals with mental illness â and now the net society consists of tens of thousands of effective users. By giving straightforward, reliable, and targeted online dating sources, Jim supports singles in relation to good mental health.
«Everyone’s adorable. All of us have some body available for them.» â Jim Leftwich, Founder of No More Lonely
The mission of No Longer Lonely is right here inside title. The niche dating website motivates singles with emotional maladies discover comfort, solidarity, and love in a secure area built to fulfill their requirements. It’s absolve to join the matchmaking circle and come up with good advances toward the kind of life you would like â in addition to sorts of love you need.
«its advisable that you have company and look for really love,» Jim said. «Even though you have been diagnosed with a mental disease, that does not mean you aren’t ready taking pleasure in every little thing everyone does.»