Nottingham Healthcare and partners launch Notts 85258 mental health text messaging service

Posted on:

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 today (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.”

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.

  • Nottinghamshire Healthcare provides a crisis line 0808 196 3779 available to anyone in mental health crisis at anytime, anywhere across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. Available 24 hours a day, seven-days a week, it’s the number to call if you are experiencing a mental health crisis and need immediate help. It’s open to people of all ages who need urgent mental health support.
  • Crisis sanctuaries are also available for adults over 18 at different locations across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, venues, days and opening times can be found here: Home | Nottinghamshire Crisis Sanctuaries
  • For online support and advice for young people, visit: https://nottalone.org.uk
  • Shout is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope. Powered by charity Mental Health Innovations, Shout launched publicly in May 2019 and has taken 1,8 million conversations with more than 620,000 people who were feeling anxious, stressed, depressed, suicidal or overwhelmed and who needed urgent support – About Shout 85258 | Shout 85258 (giveusashout.org)