The service is commissioned by NHS Central East, NHS Norfolk and Suffolk, and NHS Essex Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). It is delivered by Next Generation (NXG) Thrive, a specialist provider of mental health and wellbeing services for children and young people, and will support people in Bedfordshire, Luton, Milton Keynes, Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.
The service provides free, confidential, and immediate access to trained responders via SMS, WhatsApp, and Webchat. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to people of all ages experiencing emotional distress, anxiety, loneliness, overwhelming thoughts, or anyone who needs immediate emotional support through a confidential message-based conversation.
The East of England 24/7 All Age Crisis Text Support Service will complement existing mental health support provision in the Central East, Norfolk and Suffolk and Essex areas. It aims to work alongside NHS and community-based services to deliver mental health support.
How to access the service:
From Wednesday 28 October, people can get support by:
SMS: Texting 'SOS' to 80899
WhatsApp: 0800 884 0655
WebChat: nxgthrive.co.uk/crisis-text-service