Uplift Featured in Newsday on “Support Growing for Caribbean Mental Health App”
In November 2024, CtrlAltFix Tech and our peer to peer mental health app, Uplift, were featured in Newsday, highlighting the growing need for accessible and anonymous mental health support across the In November 2024, Uplift, the peer to peer mental health app developed by CtrlAltFix Tech, was featured in Newsday, highlighting the growing need for accessible and anonymous mental health support across the Caribbean.
The coverage marked an important milestone for our team as Uplift reached its first year. More importantly, it reflected a wider regional conversation about mental health, connection, and the importance of safe spaces where people can speak openly.
What the Coverage Highlighted
The article focused on how Uplift was designed to respond to real gaps in mental health support within the Caribbean context.
Key points highlighted included:
- Peer to peer support rooms where up to five adults can join hour long chat sessions
- Anonymity by design, using fruit based usernames to reduce fear of stigma or judgement
- A wide range of discussion categories including depression, anxiety, relationships, disabilities, LGBTQIA plus experiences, family life, university life, and more
- Trigger warnings and safety features to support conversations around sensitive topics
- Regional mental health hotlines accessible across multiple Caribbean territories
- Feedback and guidance from mental health professionals during development
Community Growth and Early Impact
At the time of publication, the article shared early insights into how the Uplift community was growing and engaging.
As of November 13, 2024:
- Uplift had 227 registered users
- 102 men
- 119 women
- 6 non binary users
- 134 support rooms had been created
- 41 unique topics had been discussed
Some of the most active topics included depression, relationships, sex and intimacy, addiction, finance, and loneliness.
These early numbers reflected not just downloads or sign ups, but real conversations taking place within the community.
Why This Coverage Mattered
For our team, this feature was not just about visibility.
It was validation that conversations around mental health in the Caribbean are evolving and that people are actively seeking spaces where they can talk honestly, safely, and without judgement.
Uplift was created from personal experience, but shaped by community need. As our founder shared in the article:
“I understand how challenging it can be to face mental health struggles alone.”
Ishmael Moreno, quoted in Newsday, November 17, 2024
The pandemic highlighted how isolation and uncertainty can affect mental wellbeing, but it also reinforced the importance of connection. Uplift was envisioned as a space where individuals across the Caribbean could come together, share experiences, and support one another when it was needed most.
Building With Caribbean Identity in Mind
Uplift was intentionally built with Caribbean identity at its core.
From regional fruit names such as mango, cashew, pommerac, peewah, plum, and zaboca, to country specific mental health hotlines, the platform was designed to feel familiar, culturally relevant, and grounded in the realities of the region.
Mental health challenges are universal, but culture, language, and context matter.
Preserving the Moment
With Newsday now closing its operations, this post serves as a record of that coverage and the moment it represented for our team and community.
The original article was published on November 17, 2024, and reflected a period when conversations around mental health, anonymity, and peer support were gaining increased attention across the Caribbean.
We are grateful to have been part of that conversation and remain committed to continuing the work responsibly.
Looking Ahead
Uplift remains free and accessible, with a continued focus on safety, anonymity, and community care.
Whether someone is looking for emotional support, a place to share experiences, or simply a space to connect, our mission remains the same
to help create moments of understanding, empathy, and uplift, one conversation at a time.
Original reporting by Newsday / Narissa Fraiser. Copyright remains with the publisher.
