Shout's clinically-led service

Shout is the UK’s only free, 24/7 text messaging support service, powered by Mental Health Innovations

The service is proven to reach new audiences who prefer to text and helps to take pressure off local crisis phone lines and face-to-face services. Using technology, Shout is accessible by communities across the length and breadth of the UK, reaching underserved populations who would not otherwise have a means of support.

In Shout’s four years of existence, we have scaled our service to take over 2,000,000 conversations with more than 750,000 children, young people and adults who have needed immediate mental health support. As a digital service, the anonymised Shout dataset gives unique insight into UK mental health trends.

Conversations with Shout's clinically-led service are taken by experienced Qualified Practitioners.

How Shout works

Text: 'SHOUT' to 85258

Connect: with an experienced Qualified Practitioner, supported in real-time by Clinical Supervisors

Explore: build rapport and encourage texter to open up about what’s worrying them

Plan: work together to plan how the texter can stay safe and move forwards with coping strategies

Close: conversation ends after around 45 minutes

82% of texters find their conversation helpful

Our unique track record

2 million

conversations since launch

1,500 - 2,000

daily conversations with people from every region across the UK

£10

each conversation costs less than £10

39%

of conversations were related to suicide

123,000

safety plans co-created with texters who were at imminent risk of suicide

1-2%

the number of texters who were at imminent risk referred to emergency services

Key insights into texters

63% are children and young people

26% of school-aged texters are receiving free school meals

55% have no-one else to talk to and 38% have never spoken to anyone about their mental health before

18% identify as Autistic and 19% live with ADHD

10% live with learning disabilities

38% identify as LGBTQ+

Shout reaches vulnerable groups who are more likely to struggle with their mental health and who may not get help elsewhere.

“Ambitions for providing appropriate and effective crisis support include that people can access support in the way that feels most suitable for them, whether that be on the phone, over text or accessing support face to face. Options are available to suit everyone’s needs and preferences.”

UK Government

Suicide Prevention Strategy for England (2023 - 2028)

How the clinically-led service works

MHI Shout conversation flow chart ICB.png

Benefits of the clinically-led service

Qualified Practitioners: to support your texters in mental health crisis
Dedicated service: quicker response times in busy periods and the flexibility to swiftly increase staffing levels to meet demand
Integration with your 111 service: onward signposting to your keyword from 111 (option 2)
Integration with local services: direct signposting to up to five local services
Integration with local crisis helplines: direct signposting to local 111 24/7 helplines
Bespoke keyword: chosen by your organisation
Keyword information on the Shout platform: providing volunteers with context around the person they are supporting
Keyword marketing consultancy: materials and tools designed and created by our marketing experts to help you promote your keyword
Keyword insight and trend reporting: anonymised insights and trends to help you understand the issues your keyword texters are facing

Full clinical keyword package details

"Mental Health Innovations have been very supportive throughout the process of bringing the text line to our local area, providing us with a range of comms resources to promote the service. They have been proactive in answering questions ICB and health and social care partners had as we established this service and launched the clinically-led model.”

Emma Welsh

Mental Health Crisis Concordat Lead

Our NHS partners

"This innovation aligns with the urgent and emergency mental health care support offer across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, supporting people to get access to mental health response 24/7, including those who may need urgent community response. It has increased our digital interface with our citizens to ensure we break down the barriers to health inequalities and equal access to all."

Sonya Mclean

Senior Programme Manager, Mental Health Crisis Care Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board

Get in touch

Complete the form to contact Caroline Westley, Director of Income, about how a partnership with Mental Health Innovations could work for you.