Mental Health Innovations is taking part in the Christmas Challenge to raise £85,000 in just one week - from 29 November, Giving Tuesday, to 6 December. These funds will be used to support an additional 8,500 people in distress who text Shout for support with their mental health this Christmas.
Donations to the campaign will be generously matched by partners including Selfridges and Big Give Champion, the Monday Charitable Trust. This means the money of everyone who contributes to the campaign can support twice as many children, young people and adults in the UK who need urgent mental health support than at any other time. With the cost of living crisis making it tougher than ever for families this Christmas, this support could be life-saving over the Christmas period, when other services are closed.
Victoria Hornby, Chief Executive of Mental Health Innovations, which powers free, confidential, 24/7 text service Shout, said:
"Since launch we have taken 1.5 million conversations with more than half a million people who have needed immediate support due to feeling anxious, stressed, low or suicidal. Thanks to more than 2,000 amazing volunteers who freely give their time to support those in distress, our service is able to run 24/7 and is open when other services aren’t available. We don't stop for Christmas - because neither do anxiety, depression or loneliness.
But being there around the clock takes funding, which is why we’re asking for your help to raise vital funds during this week of giving. Every £1 that you donate between 29 November - 6 December will be matched by our generous partners, including Selfridges. That means one gift will have twice the impact for our service."
