Snapchat has partnered with Shout – a 24/7 free text messaging service that launched in the UK May 2019 – to help people access mental health support services. With over 2,300 dedicated volunteers and clinical supervisors at Shout, Snapchat hopes to bring further awareness to mental health issues and suicide prevention in order to protects its users.
According to Shout, “a large proportion of people who contacted Shout 85258 were reaching out for mental health support for the first time, with 38% having never spoken to anyone else, and 55% feeling they didn’t have anyone else they could talk to”.
"The number of people seeking mental health support by text message has almost doubled since the start of the pandemic."
Read more about our latest report in @EveningStandard: https://t.co/uQhnjBaxrT
— Shout 85258 (@GiveUsAShout) February 17, 2021
It is clear that many people are interested in mental health support, but don’t have adequate resources or people to confide in. With this in mind, Snapchat has rolled out multiple features to help users access help and to not feel alone. Snapchat’s partnership with Shout will work in the same way as it does with US-based Crisis Text Line. If a user sees a worrisome Snapchat post from one of their friends – they can report it and the poster will receive a direct message prompt from Snapchat reading “a friend is worried about you” as well as useful mental health resources.
Other past Snapchat mental health initiatives include their “Here For You” search tool – which provides “resources from expert localised partners when you search for certain topics related to mental health, anxiety, depression, stress, suicidal thoughts, grief and bullying”.
As countries around the world continue to extend their lockdowns, mental health resources and tools are more important than ever.