Case Study: SHM Foundation achieves secure, private digital support groups with Rocket.Chat

The Messaging App To Overcome Social Isolation During Pandemic Times

SHM Foundation, a London-based NGO that runs support groups for people affected by stigma and social isolation, needed a secure, private messaging platform to replace costly SMS and unsuitable social apps. Facing high-privacy requirements for vulnerable adults and adolescents in projects like Zumbido Health, SHM Foundation (100+ users) adopted Rocket.Chat’s messaging platform in 2017 to provide a confidential digital space for group support.

Rocket.Chat delivered end-to-end encryption, global privacy compliance, data ownership, auditing tools, customizable channels and an administrator dashboard with keyword flagging to monitor mental-health risk signs. The platform now supports about 150 participants across Zambia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, exchanges thousands of messages daily, hosts mentoring and guest-speaker events, and has become part of a medical trial measuring whether group participation improves medication adherence — demonstrating clear increases in engagement and support during the pandemic.

SHM Foundation

Anna Kydd

Director