New messaging service in Hampshire to help those struggling with mental health
The free text messaging service is available 24/7 for use
A new text messaging service has launched in Hampshire and is available for anyone who's going through a mental health crisis.
Southern Health NHS Trust has teamed up with SHOUT which is a free, anonymous service that is open 24/7.
The partnership has been funded by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight CCG to help improve the wellbeing of residents across the county and digital access to mental health support.
People who live in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight can now text ‘HANTS’ to 85258 to be connected to a trained volunteer who can help with anxiety, stress, loneliness or depression.
Shout’s trained volunteers are available 24/7 to listen and support you to get to a calmer and safer place. Shout is a free, confidential, anonymous service for anyone in the UK. It won’t show up on your phone bill.
Sonya McLean is in charge crisis care at Southern Health and has said:
"I am one of the people who will reach out for help and support no matter what time of the day it is and get that sort of advice. So therefore we don't want anyone to suffer in silence because our lives are too precious for us worry and be on our and feel isolated and not know what to do."
The partnership launches during Mental Health Awareness Week where the theme is loneliness.