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"HeadsUp" Text Announces Expansion of Support Services Available
HeadsUp Text, the text support service for young people
operated by Rehab and supported by Meteor, has welcomed in the New
Year by announcing details of an expansion of its service which will
now include details of student support services at 26 colleges nationwide.
By simply texting "Headsup" to 50424, Headsup text already
offers information on support services for a range issues,
including sexual health, sexuality, mental health, suicide, drugs,
abuse and
crisis. This expansion will now provide information specifically
for students including details of students' union offices, college
counsellors,
chaplaincies and access offices. The free service is
fully automated and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Since the launch of HeadsUp Text in autumn 2007, almost
6,500 people have used the service. Of the issues raised
by texters, "teen issues" is the topic on which users
have most frequently sought
advice, accounting for 18% of requests. This is followed
by mental health at 14%, sexual health at 12%, and
suicide and sexuality each
at 11%. The vast majority of texts occur between 11pm
and midnight.
New Year - New Worries
Collette Ryan, HeadsUp Project Manager, comments: "The
arrival of the New Year can be a source of renewed
inspiration for people, however, as the excitement
of the holiday season ebbs
away,
it can also pave the way for new worries for young
people around money, relationships and the future.
That is why it is crucial
that they know
that they can turn to Headsup when they need it
most, for information and support, whether it is for themselves,
or for a friend in trouble.
The addition of student services to HeadsUp Text
means that we are combining national help and support
services for young people with
local on-the-ground services in colleges."
Commenting on the service, Amanda Carroll, Meteor's
Head of Communications, said, "The Headsup text
service helps to create communication between
young people and the
support groups that can
help them with any issues that they may be experiencing.
We welcome the opportunity to support Rehab with
the expansion of this valuable
communications resource for young people."
In addition to details of student services at
colleges nationwide, HeadsUp Text also features
details of the Samaritans, AL Anon, Aware, Women's Aid,
Childline, MABS and Bodywhys, amongst others.
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