Beta Theta Pi has partnered with MANUAL, powered by Release U, to give members free access to a men’s mental wellness and personal development program. Confidential text coaching, short expert-led videos and hosted podcasts are now available to Brothers on their phones wherever they are, at no cost.
The partnership reflects a simple belief: being a man of principle includes taking care of yourself, and asking for support should be an everyday habit, not a last resort.
What is MANUAL?
MANUAL is a mental wellness and personal development platform built specifically for men. It is designed to meet Betas where they are, with practical, approachable content rather than a clinical, intimidating front door. Members get:
1:1 confidential text coaching. Message a coach directly from the app. Coaches respond Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.
60+ hours of short videos. Quick, expert-led videos on topics like mental wellness, relationships, fitness, sexual health, career advice and more. Feeds adapt based on what users watch and bookmark.
Expert-hosted podcasts. Longer conversations for the commute, the gym or the walk to class.
(Download the outreach flyer by clicking the image to the left.)
Who is behind it?
MANUAL launched in 2018 and joined Release Recovery, a New York-based substance use and mental health organization, in 2024. The program is now delivered through Release U, which also serves other fraternities and universities, including Zeta Beta Tau, Kappa Delta Rho, Ole Miss, SMU and Ohio State. MANUAL reports a community of more than 70,000 young men nationwide.
Why it matters
Research consistently shows that men are less likely than women to seek help for mental health challenges. Stress over school, work, relationships and what comes next is a shared experience in our Fraternity, and most Betas have been on one side or the other of a conversation that started with “I’m fine.” MANUAL lowers the barrier: no appointment, no waiting room and no one watching you walk in. Just a text message and a trained coach.
Member privacy
Coaching conversations stay between the member and their coach. Chapter leaders, advisors and Beta Theta Pi Administrative Office staff cannot see them. Release U shares only aggregate information, such as how many members have enrolled and are active, never who is using it or what they are discussing.
There is one exception: If a coach triggers a crisis protocol, a member of the Administrative Office team is notified so that someone can make sure they get help.
All Beta Theta Pi collegiate members have been auto-enrolled. They should:
- Check their inbox for an onboarding email from tech@releaserecovery.com. (Check spam, junk and promotions if you don’t see it.)
- Download the app. Scan the QR code in the outreach flyer above or visit download.u.releaserecovery.com. It’s available on the Apple App Store and Google Play, where it appears as Release U.
- Sign in with the email tied to your MyBeta account. MANUAL doesn’t use passwords; it emails you a one-time code each time you sign in.
- Not sure which email MANUAL has? Sign up with the email you prefer and choose Beta Theta Pi as your organization.
Having trouble? Contact MANUAL support at releaseu@releaserecovery.com with your name, your chapter and a screenshot. If your enrollment email never arrived, email events@beta.org and a staff member will confirm which address you were enrolled under.
For chapter leaders
The easiest way to introduce MANUAL is to share the outreach flyer linked above at a chapter meeting and give everyone five minutes to download and sign in together, so sign-in questions get solved on the spot. You can also post the flyer around the chapter facility for year-round access.
If you need help right now
MANUAL coaching is not an emergency service and is not a substitute for professional clinical care. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or call 911.
Looking ahead
The Fraternity hopes every Brother takes a few minutes to download MANUAL, explore the feed and, when the time is right, send that first message. And if you’re a Beta who has already found something valuable in the app, endorse the service to the rest of your chapter.
