Notts Healthcare and partners launch Notts 85258 mental health text messaging service
Nottinghamshire Healthcare, alongside partners across the Integrated Care System, has teamed up with mental health charity Mental Health Innovations to launch free and confidential mental health support 24/7, through the charity’s text messaging support service Shout.
From Monday 6 March 2023, anyone living in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire can text the word Notts to 85258 to be connected to a trained Shout Volunteer. The service is open around the clock and volunteers, supervised by a bank of clinicians, can help with issues such as anxiety, stress, loneliness, depression and suicidal thoughts.
The conversation, which takes place entirely by text message, aims to help the texter reach a calmer place with a plan to move forward. It will also signpost them to further support available locally.
Nottinghamshire Healthcare’s Deputy Director of Local Mental Health Services, Kazia Foster says: “This new dedicated texting service, specifically for people in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, is an excellent addition to our urgent mental health support offer, which includes a 24/7 crisis line and crisis sanctuaries. It offers local people a different way to access help when they need it and I would like to urge anyone who is struggling with their mental health or wellbeing to text ‘Notts’ to 85258 and get support from the Shout team.”
Maxine Bunn, Service Delivery Director, Mental Health and Children at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB, adds: “We are delighted to launch this new free and confidential mental health support text messaging service to people living in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. The service is open 24/7 and specially trained volunteers are able to help with anxiety, stress, loneliness, depression and suicidal thoughts as well as signposting to further support available locally.”
Emma Wilson, Senior Marketing and Partnerships Manager at Mental Health Innovations, said, “We’re extremely pleased to be partnering with Nottinghamshire Healthcare to help support anyone in the area who is feeling anxious, depressed or suicidal. By texting the word ‘NOTTS’ to 85258, residents can access Shout’s free, confidential text messaging support at any time of day or night. This may be the first time they’ve reached out for help with their mental health and can be the first step towards accessing the further support they require locally.”
Shout is a free, confidential, anonymous service, designed to provide people with ‘in the moment’ support. Texting Shout does not appear on phone bills and all messages are confidential unless there is concern about someone’s safety.