Talk to someone this World Kindness Day
Many people are facing a mental health battle we might know nothing about and the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic has made things incredibly difficult for us all.
Bryony Gordon
According to research by our charity partner, Shout, 47% of students contacting the support service ‘don't feel they have anyone else to talk to’.
Today is World Kindness Day, and Shout are asking students to check in on a friend and share their text number – 85258 – with anyone who may need it.
Why is Shout a text service? Well, their data suggests that the anonymity of the service has been one of the reasons people have felt comfortable discussing private issues. At a time when people are facing restrictions and lockdown measures, 31% of texters said they used the service because they don’t now have access to a therapist. A similar proportion also felt too embarrassed to talk to someone in person or on the phone.
So, it’s clear there’s a need for a service like this – and World Kindness Day provides a timely reminder that we should all be kind to ourselves and each other. Shout is staffed by trained volunteers, who have seen a huge increase in contacts during recent months. As mental health advocate Bryony Gordon has said, “Many people are facing a mental health battle we might know nothing about and the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic has made things incredibly difficult for us all.”
If there’s someone you feel could use some help, just starting a conversation with them could be more meaningful than you would think. But, as you’ve heard, not everyone will be super-comfortable opening up in person, so be sure to share the details of Shout – they are available 24/7, and just a text away.
Text STUDENT to 85258
