Mental health text line launches in UK with a little help from the royals

A free text line for anyone suffering a mental health crisis has launched in the UK, backed by the royals.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Meghan and Harry, have helped to bring a version of the U.S.-founded Crisis Text Line to the UK, investing £3m in an offshoot service called Shout.

Launched in 2013 by Nancy Lublin, former CEO of social change organisation DoSomething.org, the Crisis Text Line aims to reduce stigma around mental health and provide aid with its free messaging service.

You can send a message to the 24/7 text line in a moment of need — they've processed over 100 million messages — and a trained volunteer crisis counsellor will respond, usually within five minutes depending on traffic. To send a message, text 85258, and while the first two responses are automated, you'll then be connected to a volunteer for a chat.

Prince William appears in a new video about the service, in which he details how Shout will work.

"As texting is private and silent, it opens up a whole new way to find help," he said. "It provides instant support. You can have a conversation anywhere, at anytime: at school, at home, on the bus, anywhere.

"I am incredibly excited to be launching this service, knowing it has the potential to reach thousands of vulnerable people every day."

The Duke of Cambridge said the service had been in development over the last year.

"Catherine, Harry, Meghan, and I have been able to see the service working up close and are very excited for its future," he said, before taking the opportunity to invite people in the UK to apply as a volunteer crisis counsellor.

"It is not for everyone. There are some very difficult conversations, and you need to be able to listen without judgement on a range of issues, from suicidal thoughts to bullying, abuse, sexuality, self harm, and relationships."

According to the BBC, Shout launched a 12-month pilot last year, which saw the sign-ups of 1,000 volunteers, and 60,000 conversations.

The royals have spent many years working to end the stigma around mental health. William, Kate, and Harry launched the Heads Together initiative to encourage speaking openly about mental health in 2017. It's part of The Royal Foundation, which encompasses all their charitable work.

Shout is available in the UK, including England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The Crisis Text Line team expects to launch in Ireland next, then Australia and South Africa before the end of 2019, then Latin America early 2020.

Text lines like this and others have proven effective means of giving people an accessible avenue to communicate during a mental health crisis. They're one of many types of helpful resources available, and have in the past turned up useful data to help open up conversations about suicidal thoughts and how to assess suicide risk, for example.

The more tools at our disposal, particularly within our regular means of communication, the better.

If you want to talk to someone or are experiencing suicidal thoughts, text Shout at 85258 or call 999 for emergency help in the UK. You can also contact the Samaritans on 116 123 or Childline on 0800 1111. If you’re in the U.S., text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Alternatively, a further list of international resources is available here.