Preface

This is the second to a two part article. Here is the first part of the article.

The REAL Article:

ShouldertoCryOn is a mental health platform whose mission is to heal people’s mental health issues, allowing them to move onward with their lives and deal with their other pressing matters, such as financial stability, physical wellbeing, etcetera. The platform offers an online space where emotional support can take many forms. This includes professional psychotherapy, peer-to-peer interactions, group engagements and educational resources. These facilities act in unison to support the individual and thereby giving the individual the ability to be of service to their community; insert the infamous quote by French author, Alexandre Dumas, “all for one and one for all”.

Initially, the Co-founders, Andalib Kibria and Mushfeq Noor Afsar, wanted to create a “venting” app; an app where someone simply goes to unload their issues and in return consoles the other recipient of their issues. Mr. Kibria took this a step further and did an in-depth analysis into this concept. Through his discovery, he found not only was there a pressing need for such an app, but large institutions like Hospitals, Universities and Corporations also have a need for a platform that offers professional as well as peer-to-peer psychotherapy. This again took him into another deep dive where he realized that anonymity and access to succinct educational resources, also would have a profound influence on the healing process. Thus, the first version of ShouldertoCryOn’s dashboard layout was born (see below).

“Our aim and goal are for members of ShouldertoCryOn to be off the platform and not using it once their issues have been resolved. To the point where if we see a member who has not signed in over a 3-month period, then most likely we will refund the 3-months’ worth of subscription”, a statement made by Mr. Kibria in regard to ShouldertoCryOn’s ultimate objective. Since the platform is still in development, the cost to become a member is $10 USD per month, plus the hourly rate for any professional therapists a member chooses to engage. This monthly subscription allows the individual to access the majority of the facilities, such as Find a Friend, Group Session, Courses and Go Anonymous. Therefore, the monthly subscription will most likely increase as the development progresses and the platform matures. Mr. Kibria emphasizes to see this monthly charge as an investment and not as a cost. "A member is paying the monthly subscription to invest in themselves and relieve any suffering from matters they would otherwise face difficulty in settling on their own", said Mr. Kibria. The penultimate result is for the members to find peace and what they do afterwards is of their own volition. The ShouldertoCryOn team is approaching this charge rate 'one step at a time', and thereby unable to fully predict the future amount. The current expectation is $200 to $500 USD per month; a steep charge, but one that needs further evaluation.

The team’s 'one step at a time' approach has been a tried and tested method, especially when finding a solution to a problem that has yet to be defined. The team, in this instance, is Ark-am. They are the ones behind the development of the ShouldertoCryOn and currently busy working on their client’s, Ike Ubasineke's app, Growdie. From the very beginning, Ark-am embarked to establish themselves on a solid foundation; what that foundation consists is entirely dependent on the circumstance. However, in order to build a solid foundation, one must, at bare minimum, think ahead, thereby knowing what to plan and how to strategize for the foreseeable future. Ark-am does not plan the next 10 steps but instead thinks of the 10 steps and then reevaluates the 9 steps again, and this is repeated at every taken step. By far this is not the most efficient, nor is it the most profitable, but it is hyper effective because the process is agile and the resources needed remain lean.

Now that the article is drawing near to an end, Ark-am and the ShouldertoCryOn teams want to promise to the readers and their members a few things: they are here to help; they are not here to treat people like objects; they are not here to consider peoples’ wallets as a bank accounts; they are here to stay as long as feasible and as long as the members want their services. That being said, life is life and it can take many turns, especially ones that no one expects or foresees. Now with the introduction of Ai and all its capabilities, they have a long and tough road ahead. Therefore, the ShouldertoCryOn platform needs to be a compelling product at a competitive value. God willing, the road ahead of them is made easy through their hard work, well researched perseverance, and shared values.