New 24/7 Mental Health Support Service ‘Shout’ Launches in Northamptonshire
Residents of Northamptonshire now have access to free, confidential, and round the clock mental health support thanks to a new partnership between Integrated Care Northamptonshire (ICN), North and West Northamptonshire Councils, and the charity Mental Health Innovations.
Funded by North and West Northamptonshire Public Health services and ICN, Shout provides free mental health support for adults over 18 across Northamptonshire. This innovative service allows people to access mental health support directly from their phone through the text messaging support line, anytime, anywhere 365 days a year.
Launched on Monday, 2 September, the service is simple to use. All you need to do is text the word ‘IMATTER’ to 85258 to be connected with a trained Shout Volunteer. The service is available 24/7 and is designed to help individuals experiencing challenges such as anxiety, stress, loneliness, depression, or suicidal thoughts. Conversations take place entirely via text message and aim to help users reach a calmer state, with a plan for moving forward. Additionally, Shout can signpost users to local mental health resources for ongoing support.
Shout is free, confidential, and anonymous, making it an accessible option for anyone in need of immediate support. Messages exchanged with Shout do not appear on phone bills, and all conversations remain confidential, except in cases where there are concerns about an individual's safety.
For more information, please visit Shout: the UK's free, confidential and 24/7 mental health text service for crisis support | Shout 85258 (giveusashout.org).