Monday 17 November
Since May 2024, people have been able to phone 111 to get support when in a mental health crisis and be connected to an advisor local to them, rather than having to remember or find local crisis numbers. From the 17 October, people will also be offered the option of receiving help via text.
When phoning NHS 111 and selecting the mental health option, people can expect to hear the following message: If you would prefer to receive support by text, connect with a mental health professional by texting CALMER (that’s C-A-L-M -E-R) to 85258. This service is provided free in partnership with Shout.
Levi Buckley, chief delivery officer for the NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB, said: “For many people, and especially when they are experiencing a mental health crisis, texting is seen as a preferred way of making initial contact, at a time when someone may not be ‘ready to talk’ or to have face-to-face interaction.
“Simply texting ‘CALMER’ to 85258, anyone in the North East and North Cumbria region experiencing anxiety, stress, loneliness, depression, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or other mental health challenges can use the service.”
Funded by the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board and delivered by digital mental health service Shout, text conversations are taken by mental health professionals and overseen by clinical supervisors. Integrating a text service offer aligns with national NHS digital commitments and digital details and making access easier for people.
Levi added: “Over the past year, our local NHS providers have worked hard to simplify the way people can get urgent mental health support.
“With the intention of providing the best range of support, pathways became unnecessarily complicated for people seeking help. Having one number to call for urgent mental health support makes it so much easier for people to get help when the really need it.
“Bringing in the text offer message into NHS 111 brings together another piece of the jigsaw.”
The text service is not for emergency support and the NHS advises people to phone 999 if there is a serious risk to life.
