SMS to SOS G
et Connected, the free helpline for under-25s, has launched an SMS service, so that young
people can text a cry for help at any time.
Non-judgemental help is now available by texting 80849, 365 days a year. This facility was introduced to make it as easy as possible for young people to access support, particularly young men, who typically find it difficult to reach out for help.
One of the most common issues to come up on the SMS service is suicide, with 12% of young people texting about suicidal feelings. The suicide rate is high amongst young men aged 16-25, and 1 in 12 young men contacting Get Connected are struggling with these sorts of issues.
The new text service could prevent thousands of young male suicides each year.
Suicidal feelings remain one the most stigmatised and unspoken issues faced by young people today. These feelings can be hard to articulate, and 3 out of 4 suicidal young people contact Get Connected via its non-verbal channels, rather than calling the phone helpline. As many feel reluctant to talk about their problems out loud, the text channel offers an anonymous forum where they can silently scream for help.
Since most under-25s text regularly, the SMS service means that suicidal young men can access life-saving support by using a familiar and comfortable medium. As many will carry their phone with them at all times, it also means they are never more than a few taps away from help and hope.
Feelings of hopelessness are common amongst 16-25 year olds, who make up 75% of the suicidal young people who contact Get Connected. With soaring unemployment, this age group faces challenges that can seem insurmountable
18 full on!
>> Youth Helpline’s Text Service Offers Lifeline to Young People in Despair
for them, and the knock-on effect can be dramatic; many simply don’t see a way out.
One of the users of the text service, Jamie, 19, said, “I was in such a dark place when I texted Get Connected, and I didn’t feel like things would ever get better. I even felt that I didn’t want to be alive any more, but the prospect of getting help was overwhelming. I had nothing to lose by sending Get Connected a text message, and it was possibly the best decision I’ve ever made. I’m now getting loads of support and feel way more positive. It scares me to think what might have happened if Get Connected hadn’t been there.”
Get Connected CEO, Fiona Clark, said, “In these turbulent times, we’re delighted that our new text channel will make it simpler for distressed young people to reach out for help. We recognise that it can be difficult to ask for help, particularly when young people feel a sense of hopelessness, and so we’re proud to offer a service that’s widely and easily accessible.”
The new text service complements Get Connected’s four existing helpline channels – phone, webchat, e-mail, and an online directory of help, WebHelp 24/7. Each channel is free and confidential, and open 365 days a year.
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