Navigating The Emotional Rollercoaster Of Online Dating

Leading real-life dating app happn has joined forces with The Alternative Story, a pioneering mental health organisation, to introduce an awe-inspiring initiative: #SundaySharingSessions. As part of this collaboration, happn will provide its users with free counselling chat sessions, offering a safe space to discuss various topics, including digital dating nuances, identifying red flags, practising self-love, and coping with emotional burnout.

As per happn’s recent survey, 35.6 per cent of Singles admitted to frequently experiencing emotional exhaustion due to dating discrepancies, shedding light on the emotional toll of navigating modern dating. When it comes to managing emotional burnout on dating apps, 32.3 per cent resort to ignoring it, which highlights the negligence of singles towards the mental stress they face in the dating landscape. The survey also traces a pattern of neglect by Gen Z, when dealing with red flags. 24 per cent tend to ignore them or proceed cautiously, while the rest give the benefit of the doubt (21.2 per cent). Moreover, the survey highlighted that a large chunk (27 per cent) believed that mental health plays an important role when faced with conflicting desires in dating. However, since therapy is expensive, it isn’t a top priority for them. 

#SundaySharingSessions is a dedicated, safe space for happn users to empower them through open, honest conversations and guidance from trained therapists. The partnership between happn and The Alternative Story signifies a concerted effort by both organisations to elevate the mental health landscape in the dating sphere.

Join happn and The Alternative Story for this month-long initiative from 14th January 2024 to 4th February 2024, every Sunday from 8 PM to 10 PM, for #SundaySharingSessions on the happn app to navigate your journey toward meaningful connections and personal growth.

Expressing her enthusiasm about this collaboration, Karima Ben Abdelmalek, CEO and President of happn, commented, "At happn, we recognize the importance of fostering a supportive community for our users beyond the realm of dating. Our partnership with The Alternative Story reflects our commitment to addressing the holistic well-being of our users. By offering free counselling chat sessions, we aim to create a sanctuary where individuals can seek guidance and support as they navigate the intricate landscape of online dating."

Rashi Vidyasagar, Director, The Alternative Story emphasised, "Being authentic in a dating space is a daunting and emotionally overwhelming task for most people. Our mission is to provide accessible services to people who need it. And that’s how happn’s vision of fostering authentic connections aligns with ours. Through this collaboration we hope to create spaces of empathy, and care that in turn will foster open dialogue, offer support and empower people to make mental health a priority in this new year.”