We were delighted to be joined by key representatives in the mental health sector from the Government and the NHS to launch our new report, ‘Help is just a text away: accessing and scaling mental health support through Shout’s digital service’, co-written with the Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London, at an event marking World Mental Health Day.
The report highlights the vital role of digital services such as Shout, which is powered by Mental Health Innovations in providing better mental health support for people across the UK.
Speaking at the event at Imperial, Minister for Mental Health, Baroness Merron, said: "The role of digital innovation is going to be an important part of the way we deliver effective care and support in the future and the government is committed in making the move from analogue to digital. Shout is a great example of a service that gives another option for support, particularly for those not in contact with a mental health service."
From left to right: CEO of Mental Health Innovations Victoria Hornby, NHS England’s Medical Director for Mental Health and Neurodiversity Dr Adrian James, Minister for Mental Health Baroness Merron, Service Voice User Group member Ali and Professor Lord Ara Darzi. [Photo credit: Rolando Charles]
The report reveals how Shout is addressing an unmet need. Over 40% of texters tell us that they do not access statutory services for support for their mental health, and this is particularly the case for children and young people. Those who do use statutory services tell us that accessibility is an issue. At Shout, they can access much-needed support swiftly, at a time and from a place that suits them.
The report launch comes just weeks after Professor Lord Ara Darzi’s independent review into the NHS, which revealed that a million people across the UK are on waiting lists for mental health support.
In a speech to attendees, Lord Darzi said: “Long waiting times are unacceptable, and we need bold action to address them. That is why Shout was established - to address this unmet need. Since Shout was set up in 2018, it has changed mental health provision in the UK. It has demonstrated how a simple text based service can provide immediate support to people in crisis, who may be at risk of suicide.”
Attendees also heard how Shout is addressing an unmet need across the UK. As a digital, 24/7 service, it is available when other services are not, and speaking to a Shout Volunteer is often the first port of call for many people who have never been able to open up about their thoughts and feelings before.
Speaking about the impact of Shout, Lord Darzi said: “The data shows what I always expected. That Shout is a hugely valuable addition to the range of mental health services available in this country.
NHS England thinks so too. It has mandated that a crisis text messaging service should be provided in every English region from April 2025.”
Also attending the event was Dr Adrian James, NHS England’s Medical Director for Mental Health and Neurodiversity.
Addressing the audience Dr James agreed that digital solutions such as Shout are key to improving mental health outcomes. He said: “Digital solutions are necessary to deliver improvements in the way in which we manage our mental health services.
Shout provides opportunities to improve choice in accessible support, to provide support in a way that appeals to people, particularly children and young people, and it is a great opportunity to scale up the delivery of support for mental health.
I’d like to thank Mental Health Innovations for their commitment to addressing mental health challenges.”
Victoria Hornby, CEO of Mental Health Innovations said: “The decline in mental health in the UK, particularly amongst young people, is alarming and harnessing innovation and technology is critical to meeting this enormous challenge. That is why I am so proud of how the Shout service, as demonstrated by this report, is taking a leading role in tackling those challenges through digital innovation.”
Ali Shah, a member of the Service User Voice Group, speakes at the launch of the 'Help is just a text away' report. [Photo credit: Rolando Charles]
As part of the report, a Service User Voice Group was established in order to gain insight and learnings from people with lived experience. We were honoured that Ali Shah, one of the nine members of the group spoke about his own experience with Shout. He told attendees: “I first came across Shout around three years ago at a time where I didn’t have people around me that I could trust to speak with about how I was feeling, like many Shout Users. Shout was one of the first places I came across that felt safe enough to express my difficulties, and discover how meaningful it is to have another person listen. I soon decided to volunteer with the service, to help other people like me.”
The Minister for Mental Health Baroness Merron speak to attendees of the report launch at Imperial [photo credit: Rolando Charles]
Baroness Merron added: “It was really encouraging to hear how much the views and experiences of the Service User Voice Group and the Youth Advisory Board have had such a big role in influencing the report and service itself – because we need to ask people directly what they want and need.
We also need this type of expertise and knowledge to help us design national policies and actions to improve mental health and prevent suicides.”
Through our recent merger with digital youth charity The Mix, Mental Health Innovations is paving the way for more support for young people and adults with their mental health, through a suite of new products designed to provide early intervention including self-paced learning tools, peer-to-peer support and innovative single-session interventions.
Baroness Merron said: "The merger between Mental Health Innovations and the Mix, driving and strengthening early intervention throughout the service, is an exciting opportunity to expand the role of digital services for young people struggling with their mental health and wellbeing."
