On this page you’ll find answers to some of the questions we’re most frequently asked. If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, please contact us and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
General
Can Positive help me with my mental illness?
While some of the tools and techniques we share may help those with mental illnesses, this is not what our programmes are designed for. Our programmes do not offer clinical support for psychological disorders, rather they are designed to promote the development of positive, proactive habits that can help you to optimise your psychological wellbeing in your everyday life. We would urge any individual who is struggling with mental health issues to reach out to those around them and/or seek help from a professional. The diagnosis and treatment of clinical mental illness requires the attention of a physician or other properly qualified mental health professional.
Where can I access further help?
The NHS Website provides a comprehensive list of websites and helplines to support people with a range of psychological health concerns:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mental-health-helplines/
as well as suicidal thoughts:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/suicide/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mental-health-helplines/
as well as suicidal thoughts:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/suicide/
Samaritans: call free on 116 123 (UK and Ireland)
Education support: is a helpline for UK teachers, lecturers and staff in education: call free on 08000 562 561
Support for children and young people:
ChildLine: call free on 0800 11 11 (UK); 1800 66 66 66 (Republic of Ireland, under 18s only); 01 6767960 (Republic of Ireland, for parents); webchat available (check website)
Youngminds Crisis Messenger: text YM to 85258 – texts are free from some service providers
Do I need any existing knowledge to participate in a Positive programme?
Our programmes do not require any existing knowledge from individuals or teams. We will guide you through all the science required to understand and get the most from our tools and practices.
Do I have to have a mobile phone to participate in a programme?
Although we believe that our programmes are strongest with technology, the majority can be adapted for those who do not have access to/wish to use a mobile phone. The exception to this is PIE which is designed specifically for an app-enabled mobile device. Please contact us if you are unsure about the suitability of a programme.
Is there a minimum age for the Positive App?
The Positive App is intended for users over the age of 13. There are a number of ways that our digital tools can be adapted for use with children below this age.
Data
The following FAQs aim to give you information on how Positive collects and processes data given through the Positive App, the Positive Online platform and our surveys.
At Positive our fundamental goal is to enable you to improve your psychological wellbeing. The Positive App and Positive Online platforms are tools we provide to support you and your learning around our programmes. They offer a way of implementing lessons from neuroscience and psychology into everyday life. Where they also collect data, we are interested in identifying broad trends in what impacts psychological wellbeing, both in your organisation, and more widely. We are not seeking to collect data about you as an individual.
We hope that the following FAQs will help you to understand how your data is used. Further details can be found in our Privacy Policy. We believe that our teaching is most effective when supported by our digital offerings; however, if you are still concerned about the use of your data, many of our programmes can be completed without the Positive App or Positive Online platform, and all of our tools can be adapted to be used without digital technology.
What is ‘personal data’?
‘Personal data’ means any information which identifies you as an individual. It will include your name, but it may also be other information such as your date of birth, email address or IP address which, when combined, identify you.
What is ‘special category data’?
Special category data is personal data which the GDPR says is more sensitive, and so needs more protection. For example, information about your race, politics, religion, genetics, or health.
What does ‘processing data’ mean?
Processing is any action performed on personal data from the point of creation to destruction and everything in between (e.g. obtaining, disclosing, amending, storing, deleting etc.).
What data does Positive collect?
We may collect the following types of data:
We also collect, use and share Aggregated Data such as statistical or demographic data. Aggregated Data may be derived from your personal data but is not considered personal data in law, as this data does not directly or indirectly reveal your identity. For example, we may aggregate your Usage Data to calculate the percentage of users accessing a specific app feature.
If your personal data is ever combined or connected to Aggregated Data so that it can directly or indirectly identify you, we treat the combined data as personal data which will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
- Identity Data – your first name, last name, gender, age.
- Contact Data – your email address, phone number.
- Wellbeing Data – data relating to your wellbeing, moodstates and experiences.
- Transaction Data – details about payments made through PayPal from your PayPal account and other details about the products and services you have purchased from us and named points of contacts on invoices.
- Technical Data – your internet protocol (IP) address, your login data, browser type and version, time zone setting and location.
- Profile Data – your username and password, purchases or orders made by you, feedback and survey responses.
- Usage Data – information about how you use our website, app products and services.
- Marketing and Communications Data – your preferences in receiving marketing from us and your communication preferences.
We also collect, use and share Aggregated Data such as statistical or demographic data. Aggregated Data may be derived from your personal data but is not considered personal data in law, as this data does not directly or indirectly reveal your identity. For example, we may aggregate your Usage Data to calculate the percentage of users accessing a specific app feature.
If your personal data is ever combined or connected to Aggregated Data so that it can directly or indirectly identify you, we treat the combined data as personal data which will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
How do you use my personal data?
When we process your personal data, we do so in accordance with your instructions and to provide you the services you’ve requested. For example, the Positive App allows you to record your Wellbeing Data, such as information about your moodstate, because recording how you feel and the reasons behind those feelings, helps to develop emotional literacy. We store, and therefore process, these records so that you can review your past moodstates, which can also help with emotional literacy.
Where we plan to process your Wellbeing Data, we will always ask for your explicit consent to such processing. You have the right to withdraw consent to the processing of this data at any time by Contacting us.
We may also process data in order to manage our relationship with you, for example to ask you to complete a survey, or update you on changes to our policies.
Aggregated Data may analysed and used to provide your organisation with feedback on how the App and Website are being used, together with any insights which can be drawn from this use. Our insights reports will never include data which could identify you.
We set out the legal basis for collecting each type of data in our Privacy Policy and we will only use your personal data for the purposes for which we collected it. If we would like to use your personal data for an unrelated purpose, we will notify you and we will explain the legal basis which allows us to do so, or ask for your consent to such processing.
Where we plan to process your Wellbeing Data, we will always ask for your explicit consent to such processing. You have the right to withdraw consent to the processing of this data at any time by Contacting us.
We may also process data in order to manage our relationship with you, for example to ask you to complete a survey, or update you on changes to our policies.
Aggregated Data may analysed and used to provide your organisation with feedback on how the App and Website are being used, together with any insights which can be drawn from this use. Our insights reports will never include data which could identify you.
We set out the legal basis for collecting each type of data in our Privacy Policy and we will only use your personal data for the purposes for which we collected it. If we would like to use your personal data for an unrelated purpose, we will notify you and we will explain the legal basis which allows us to do so, or ask for your consent to such processing.
Do you review my data?
We do not review data at an individual level, or in real time. We do not ‘keep an eye’ on how people are feeling, and we are not able to respond if you consistently record a negative moodstate. Our tools help you to improve your awareness of your own psychological wellbeing. We do not provide a clinical service. If you feel you are struggling, please either contact someone within your organisation, or you can find details of support services under Question 2.
Who is my data shared with?
We do not sell your data to third parties. Where you take part in one of our programmes through your organisation, we may share some of your identity or contact data with your school/university/employer. However, we will never share your Wellbeing Data with anyone in your organisation without your consent.
Access to your personal information is limited to Positive staff who have a legitimate need to see it for the purpose of carrying out their job.
The information we process may be held on Positive’s software systems, some of which may be owned and operated by third parties. Where we engage with such third parties, we insist upon strict contractual requirements that must be adhered to by them to protect the personal data. This is entirely standard and in full compliance with data protection regulations.
Access to your personal information is limited to Positive staff who have a legitimate need to see it for the purpose of carrying out their job.
The information we process may be held on Positive’s software systems, some of which may be owned and operated by third parties. Where we engage with such third parties, we insist upon strict contractual requirements that must be adhered to by them to protect the personal data. This is entirely standard and in full compliance with data protection regulations.
Do you use analytics or trackers?
In common with most websites and apps, we use some limited analytics, specifically Google Firebase. This service collects aggregated data relating to use of the Positive App, such as number of daily users, average use over time, and number of crash free users (most of them!). It also collects aggregated demographic data, such as the location (by country) of users, what type of devices are used (iphone/ android), gender split, and age range. It helps us to review how our App is used, in order to improve our services. This data cannot identify an individual, and therefore is not considered ‘personal data’ under GDPR requirements. Nor is this data merged with any personally identifying information to pin point an individual, or track a person’s use of the app. Our use of these analytics is explained in our Privacy Policy.
How do I know my personal data is safe?
We have put in place appropriate security measures to prevent your personal data from being accidentally lost, used or accessed in an unauthorised way, altered or disclosed. All information you provide to us is stored on our secure servers. Our servers are protected using HTTPS and SSL technology, so whilst your data is in our care we know it’s as secure as it can be.
In addition, we limit access to your personal data to those employees, sub-processors and other third parties who have a business need to know. They will only process your personal data on our instructions and they are subject to a duty of confidentiality.
We have put in place procedures to deal with any suspected personal data breach and will notify you and any applicable regulator of a breach.
In addition, we limit access to your personal data to those employees, sub-processors and other third parties who have a business need to know. They will only process your personal data on our instructions and they are subject to a duty of confidentiality.
We have put in place procedures to deal with any suspected personal data breach and will notify you and any applicable regulator of a breach.
How long does Positive hold my data for?
We only keep your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes we collected it for, including any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. We will remove personal data from our database after 12 months of inactivity.
In some circumstances you can ask us to delete your data: see your rights below for further information.
In some circumstances we may anonymise your personal data (so that it can no longer be associated with you) for research or analysis purposes in which case we may use this information indefinitely without further notice to you.
In some circumstances you can ask us to delete your data: see your rights below for further information.
In some circumstances we may anonymise your personal data (so that it can no longer be associated with you) for research or analysis purposes in which case we may use this information indefinitely without further notice to you.
What rights do I have in relation to my data?
You have several rights in relation to your personal data, including the rights to:
- Request access to your personal data.
- Request correction of your personal data.
- Request erasure of your personal data.
- Object to processing of your personal data.
- Request restriction of processing your personal data.
- Request transfer of your personal data.
- Withdraw consent.
Who can I contact for privacy and security requests?
Our full details are:
Positive Health Strategies Limited
125–130 Temple Chambers
3–7 Temple Avenue
London
EC4Y 0HP
United Kingdom
info@positivegroup.org
+44(0) 207 936 3454
You have the right to make a complaint at any time to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK supervisory authority for data protection issues. We would, however, appreciate the chance to deal with your concerns before you approach the ICO so please contact us in the first instance.
Positive Health Strategies Limited
125–130 Temple Chambers
3–7 Temple Avenue
London
EC4Y 0HP
United Kingdom
info@positivegroup.org
+44(0) 207 936 3454
You have the right to make a complaint at any time to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK supervisory authority for data protection issues. We would, however, appreciate the chance to deal with your concerns before you approach the ICO so please contact us in the first instance.