Mental health support offered via text messaging

People struggling with their mental health are being offered help from health professionals via text message.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (CWPT), has teamed up with the charity Mental Health Innovations and their Shout service.

The text-based service puts those in need of help in touch with an expert 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Those suffering with anxiety, stress or any mental health crisis can text CWHOPE to 85258.

Mary Mumvuri, acting chief executive officer at CWPT, said: "We know that reaching out for help can be incredibly difficult, especially in moments of distress, and not everyone feels able to speak on the phone."

She said by partnering with Shout, pressure on the existing 111 NHS number should be eased because the text service would provide one-to-one support with a trained mental health professional.

"This service reflects our commitment to providing compassionate, responsive mental health care and to meeting people where they are, whenever they need us," she said.

According to data from Mental Health Innovations, the charity that runs the Shout service, 60% of those who text for support are children and young people, and almost half had not spoken to anyone about their mental health before.

Kane Hazard, the NHS Partnerships manager at the charity, said he hoped the service would provide people who needed to reach out a way to do it that was more immediate and did not mean they had to speak to someone face-to-face or over a phone call.

"We know that reaching out on the phone or in person can be difficult. Texting provides a discreet, accessible way for people to ask for support whenever they need it."

The service is free on most major mobile networks and is available to people of all ages.

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