2nd December 2022

What is JAAQ?

Name: Campaign Against Living Miserably
Price range: $

I'm Struggling

Noticed JAAQ across our website recently? We’re here to explain what JAAQ is and how we’re using it to innovate in the suicide prevention space.

JAAQ - it stands for Just Ask A Question, and it does what it says on the tin. Using AI technology, the JAAQ platform lets you ask a question and receive an answer from a whole host of experts and familiar faces from across the mental health and wellbeing industry.

The idea behind it is simple - to get more people access to help and support, whether that’s because they're worried about a mate, or want to find out more about how living with depression feels from someone who has experienced it.

Try it out

JAAQ Founder Danny Gray

JAAQ founder Danny Gray explains why he's determined to make a difference.

“From my own struggles with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) I knew there was limited free and accessible information out there for me and the people around me, like my Mum and my friends.”

“I want to change the way people view and talk about and access information on mental health. I want to make it easy, accessible in a way that has never been done before.”

That’s why Danny and the team at JAAQ are at the forefront of tech innovation, striving to create new ways for people to connect and get help in a world that’s increasingly digital.

“The use of world class technology isn’t featured enough in the world of mental health. JAAQ revolutionises the way people access and share information about mental health. By using AI, users are able to have 1-1 conversations with the world’s leading experts, as well as people with lived experience.

“My vision with the platform is to make getting help so easy that it feels like a conversation. The fact you can do it from your laptop, phone or tablet makes it so much less daunting.”

Sounds pretty good, right? But why’s CALM getting involved?

Our helpline and livechat are receiving more calls than ever. We’re working with JAAQ to help more people with whatever they’re facing - in and outside of our normal service hours.

And with suicide rates among young people increasing faster than ever, we know it’s key to find new and innovative ways to help people when they’ve hit a wall.

To kick the platform off, CALM’s very own head of services, Wendy Robinson, contributed more than 100 questions - ranging from ‘what is suicide’ through to ‘what to do if you’re worried about a mate’. It’s part of her strategy to get more people talking and learning about suicide and the issues that surround it. She said:

“CALM’s been working in the suicide prevention space for over a quarter fo a century - and we’ve always made it our mission to find new ways to help people, whether that’s through launching our webchat in 2007/8 or integrating Whatsapp support in 2021.

“Working with JAAQ is just another example of our strategy to find ways that really do help people. If we do the same old stuff, then we won’t see change - and with 125 people taking their lives every week, we really need it”

So where will you see JAAQ? Wendy’s suicide prevention videos are live now across our site. You can Just Ask A Question on the JAAQ X CALM page or head to the full JAAQ platform to explore the incredible range of experts on topics from anxiety through to yoga