{"id":316306,"date":"2025-08-04T04:54:14","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T04:54:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/316306\/"},"modified":"2025-08-04T04:54:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T04:54:14","slug":"new-24-7-mental-health-text-service-launched-for-birmingham-and-solihull","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/316306\/","title":{"rendered":"New 24\/7 mental health text service launched for Birmingham and Solihull"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Anyone experiencing mental health challenges can access help &#8216;at the touch of a button&#8217;<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/2_Doctor-In-Consultation-With-Depressed-Female-Patient.jpg\" alt=\"A female doctor in consultation with a depressed female patient\" loading=\"eager\"  \/>A female doctor in consultation with a depressed female patient(Image: scu)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">A new 24\/7 mental health text service has been launched today, Monday, August 4, for people living in <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.birminghammail.co.uk\/\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Birmingham<\/a> and <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.birminghammail.co.uk\/all-about\/solihull\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">Solihull<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Anyone experiencing anxiety, stress, loneliness, depression, or other mental health challenges can text &#8216;Space\u2019 to 85258 to connect with a trained mental health professional.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">The service is designed to be discreet and accessible, particularly for those who may not feel ready to speak on the phone or in person.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.birminghammail.co.uk\/news\/midlands-news\/birmingham-bob-shop-ordered-close-32165681?int_source=nba\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">READ MORE: Birmingham Bob Shop ordered to close following anti-social behaviour<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">The text service is a partnership between Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.birminghammail.co.uk\/all-about\/nhs\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">NHS<\/a> Foundation Trust and Shout, the UK\u2019s first 24\/7 text messaging support service, powered by the charity Mental Health Innovations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">In addition to providing in-the-moment support, texters can be signposted to a range of local mental wellbeing and mental health services, including Talking Therapies, Crisis Caf\u00e9s, and NHS 111 Option 2.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Get breaking news on <\/strong><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/FJKVhwxllixI0DiCj9e2sk\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"BirminghamLive WhatsAppLink opens in a new tab.\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"noopener\">BirminghamLive WhatsApp<\/a>, <strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">click the link to join<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">This new digital service aims to reduce pressure on services by offering an alternative route to support &#8211; especially for those waiting for further help or seeking early intervention.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Ro\u00eds\u00ecn Fallon-Williams, chief executive of Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, said: &#8220;Building on the range of services that are currently available, this localised approach offers a truly accessible first step for people who may not yet feel ready or able to talk face-to-face or over the phone.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">\u201cIt also reflects our commitment to delivering the NHS Long Term Plan by empowering people to take control of their mental wellbeing and mental health early and reducing the risk of crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">Caroline Westley, director of income at Mental Health Innovations, added: &#8220;We\u2019re proud to partner with Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust to bring this vital service to local people.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \">&#8220;Texting offers a discreet and approachable way to seek help, and by integrating Shout\u2019s clinical model into local services, we can help ease pressure on 111 and in-person support while ensuring no one has to face a mental health challenge alone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">How to start a conversation:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Text the word \u2018Space\u2019 to 85258<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"UnorderedList_unordered-list__gzblI\">\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">You\u2019ll receive four automated messages before being connected to one of Shout\u2019s qualified mental health professionals<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">Once connected, the mental health professional will listen empathetically, provide support and signpost to local services where appropriate.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">The Shout service is free, anonymous, and does not appear on phone bills. Users do not need to register, download an app, or use mobile data.<\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-700e1ff3-0 VljCu\">The partnership enables local NHS partners to meet NHS England\u2019s advisory specifications for implementing a 24\/7 crisis text message service, integrated with their local services, including the 111 phone service provision.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Anyone experiencing mental health challenges can access help &#8216;at the touch of a button&#8217;A female doctor in consultation&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":316307,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7820],"tags":[855,748,393,4884,10145,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-316306","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-birmingham","8":"tag-birmingham","9":"tag-britain","10":"tag-england","11":"tag-great-britain","12":"tag-queen-elizabeth-hospital","13":"tag-uk","14":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114968715185430881","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316306","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=316306"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316306\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/316307"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=316306"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=316306"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=316306"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}