The brief Version: Singles who may have been clinically determined to have a mental disease may feel anxious about joining a broad dating internet site and anxiety which they could possibly be evaluated, harassed, or rejected for their problem. These singles typically feel separated and despair of meeting a person that knows what they’re going through. That’s one thing Jim Leftwich set out to transform when he founded NoLongerLonely.com, a niche dating website for males and women with psychological diseases. Since 2004, not any longer Lonely has built a global neighborhood for singles who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, manic depression, PTSD, OCD, and other mental health issues — because exactly who safer to determine what you are going right through than somebody who’s undergone it, also? Through the years, don’t Lonely features facilitated lots of friendships, connections, and marriages by providing a secure spot where individuals with mental illness tend to be welcomed rather than stigmatized.

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Jim Leftwich understands exactly what it’s want to have trouble with a mental disease. He had been diagnosed with schizoaffective ailment as a young man, and contains used numerous years of treatment for him locate stability within his life. He’s got held it’s place in a psychiatric hospital, stayed in halfway casing, and worked his way back to good psychological state so as that now they are a self-supporting, semi-retired director of a college collection.

He may have stumbled in the beginning, but the guy don’t leave his diagnosis end him from obtaining their objectives. Indeed, Jim does not think a mental sickness should stand-in the way of anybody searching for joy, security, and love inside their life. He is managed to make it his goal to challenge the stigma around mental disease and empower individuals to over come their unique private challenges, especially in the social arena.

In 2004, Jim changed the internet dating landscaping for singles like himself — this is certainly, singles who have been clinically determined to have a mental illness — by releasing a distinct segment dating site for your mentally ill. It actually was the first matchmaking platform to entirely focus on this underserved population when you look at the dating scene, also it gained mass media attention from CNN, Huffington Post, The New York hours, and Narratively.

“i am gifted with a recuperation that a lot of folks do not accomplish,” Jim informed us. “Now i simply wish to help a lot more people and send all of them an email of empowerment. Mental disease just isn’t something should hold you right back.”

NoLongerLonely.com features 22,000+ customers and is also the key relationship system for mentally ill people around the world. Any person clinically determined to have a mental illness can sign up to the dating internet site free of charge to see just what network is all about. The website links people who have already been identified as having schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, OCD, personality ailment, PTSD, and numerous different psychological sicknesses because such people can relate with each other’s encounters

Spend a Two-Week free trial offer Exploring the Supportive Community

It doesn’t cost anything to generate a profile on No Longer Lonely. The dating internet site also provides a two-week free trial offer for several users, so you can browse about and acquire a sense of exactly how everything works before investing in a membership plan.

Jim stated it is critical to him that his users feel they’re getting a beneficial value from the web site. “Needs them to state, ‘That had been an effective investment,'” the guy told all of us. Not Lonely provides three account plans — a one-month, three-month, and life time. Around 60% of users select the lifetime plan because they’re thinking about playing the lengthy online game and installing committed it can take to get the proper individual.

The sign-up procedure begins on a beneficial notice through providing profile production recommendations, such as ideas on how to build an attention-grabbing title and just why it is vital to be honest with what you are considering.

After that, its a pretty regular put-in-your-email and choose-a-username process. If you are creating the profile, possible choose to divulge the height, body weight, and a personal bio, and you can in addition fill out recommended industries to suit your transport, operating condition, and residing situation. People may choose to share their analysis also should they desire.

No Longer Lonely promotes transparent matchmaking pages with detailed information. People can let folks understand upfront if they’re staying in Section 8 housing or suffer with schizophrenia. Don’t Lonely wishes singles to feel secure making reference to their particular individual scenarios and health. It’s not some dirty secret, maybe not here. You don’t need a sugar momma to add a picture to your profile to look at site and send emails. But consumers with profile pictures are usually more productive on adult dating sites simply because they look legit.

Once you’ve obtained your own profile squared away, you’ll browse lists of people who’re on the internet today, people honoring birthdays, and brand new users, or they’re able to carry out reveal look by gender, get older, medical diagnosis, and location locate a compatible person on the webpage. No further Lonely is served by a live talk area in which users can combine and socialize anonymously. “your own chat area is the greatest,” mentioned Michael, exactly who resides in a tiny city in Montana. “The friends I’ve came across on NoLongerLonely.com result in the bad times a whole lot better.”

“we just be sure to generate a sense of neighborhood,” Jim mentioned. “Many online dating sites are impersonal, and so I try to make it a far more personal thing. You are aware, I’m just like you, and I run the site.”

Prioritizing Security & Giving customers Peace of Mind

Singles with a mental disease unquestionably involve some reservations about uploading their personal information on the net, specially a dating site. This is exactly why Jim fades of their option to ensure don’t Lonely is a safe, safe, and exclusive spot to socialize and day. The guy fosters a friendly, judgment-free atmosphere in which men and women do not have to be concerned with fake profiles or spammer spiders.

“the safety of site is a premier concern in my situation,” Jim said. “I simply take great care in examining all incoming pages and keeping fraudsters away from right here.”

“i came across the maximum guy I could previously expect you’ll satisfy about website… we are getting married next spring season.” — Laura, a No Longer Lonely individual

Jim informed you he checks internet protocol address addresses and monitors profile material to ensure everybody else on not any longer Lonely could there be for the right reasons.

Don’t Lonely will be the earliest and biggest dating internet site for grownups with mental illness, and has now stayed functional and winning for a long time because of the diligent oversight who has stored it free of abusive language and damaging actions. Users know they’re able to trust this system to protect their particular info and provide an amiable environment where they’re able to meet people that show similar existence encounters.

Inspiring many affairs & 40+ Marriages

Not every person believes to create back again to a dating program once they’ve satisfied some one and wandered down in to the sundown collectively, but Jim said he has got heard from some lovers exactly who mentioned they found and started internet dating as a result of his web site. The guy estimated that no more Lonely has recently led to over 40 marriages, and then he expectations to cultivate that quantity eventually.

Going beyond simply online dating, no further Lonely has generated an internet area in which individuals with mental disease will find various types of social associations. If they want to vent from the boards or flirt in a private talk, the dating site permits visitors to conveys themselves (so long as they use appropriate language) without anxiety about view.

A majority of no more depressed customers (around 70%) reside in the usa, nevertheless the website has also members in 44 various countries, most notably the UK, Canada, and Australia. Jim said users often form worldwide relationships and long-distance connections on program. The guy told the storyline of one solitary woman who travelled to The united kingdomt to generally meet one which struggled with a social anxiety. They would experienced contact for months before making a decision they felt comfy meeting face-to-face and getting their particular link to the next stage.

Online dating sites could possibly offer people with mental illness a non-intimidating way to explore their own matchmaking options and connect to people around the globe. Real limits and emotional obstructs do not have to limit love on not any longer Lonely.

“Absolutely a luxury to online dating somebody who has undergone similar situations,” Jim said. “i am battling resistant to the frame of mind that’s piled against you.”

Not Lonely directs a strengthening Message

Over the years, Jim made a reputation for themselves as a leader in a niche online dating room. Don’t Lonely began once the enthusiasm task of someone just who recognizes the challenges experienced by people with mental illness — and today the online area includes thousands of productive people. By providing simple, reliable, and specific internet dating resources, Jim aids singles in relation to great mental health.

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

The mission of don’t Lonely is correct indeed there from inside the title. The niche dating internet site encourages singles with emotional maladies to find comfort, solidarity, and love in a safe room designed to fulfill their requirements. It’s absolve to get in on the online dating community while making good advances toward the kind of existence you need — additionally the sorts of love you need.

“It’s best that you have companionship and look for love,” Jim mentioned. “Just because you have been diagnosed with a mental disease, that does not mean you aren’t capable of appreciating everything everybody else really does.”