BYU students struggling with pornography or who know someone that is struggling can find support and resources through BYU’s Un-Alone Club.
The club, founded by former BYU student Emi Bass in 2021, aims to build community by providing a safe space devoid of shame for individuals with an addiction to pornography.
“She realized, ‘Hey, there is a subset of people here that is not as small as I thought that really needs help,’” club president Ben Sannar said. “She wanted to create something that could offer help that wasn't there already.”
According to the club's website, anyone is invited to attend, whether they are struggling, wanting to support someone else who is struggling or wanting to learn more about the resources the club provides.
“We try and provide resources and community,” Sannar said. “We bring in experts, therapists, researchers, the whole spread and try and give people something they can work with.”
Club officer Molly Remer said the Un-Alone Club has an uplifting atmosphere and desires to help individuals in a manner that is educational.
“It helps create a community,” Remer said. “A lot of people are friends here and it creates this very open and welcoming space where people can just talk about things that they're struggling with without any shame.”
Sannar said the club tries to recommend books, podcasts, people and organizations to help those that are struggling with an addiction to pornography.
“Our catchphrase here in the club is, ‘The opposite of addiction is connection,’” Sannar said. “Fill your life with good people, good friendships, connections.”
Sannar emphasized the club is not therapy, a bishop’s office or a professional program such as the 12-Step addiction recovery program provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The club instead focuses on education and community.
Meetings may consist of professional presentations from experts and professors, anonymous question-and-answer discussions and opportunities to share personal stories.
“I think we give (pornography) way too much power,” BYU engineering professor Matt Allen said in his presentation titled “Supporting Recovery” at an Un-Alone Club meeting on Sept. 24. “We make people way too afraid of it, and we can cause all kinds of problems that we didn't mean to cause.”
According to the Un-Alone Club, meetings occur every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
Each meeting also offers a Zoom option, and information to join these meetings online can be found in this document. Remer said an online option allows participants to remain anonymous if they would like.
“We like to make ourselves as accessible as possible and as easy to join as possible,” Sannar said.
More resources recommended by the Un-Alone Club can be found in the above document. Non-BYU students can sign up for the Un-Alone Club email newsletter at this link, and the club recommends BYU students enroll in the club to be added to the list.