Text message to help save lives
They said: “A couple of weeks ago, I had an acute mental health episode, although this had been building over some time. I work for the NHS, and the stress of the job plus other issues over the past few years,includingbereavement, everything became too much.
"Iendedupringingmyboss to tell her I was going to end it and basically went missing. I had only been missing a short while, but within that time I had a message come through on my phone offering support and a call from the Samaritans.”
Theinitiativeisbeingrolled out as part of Mental Health Awareness Week which aims to raise awareness of mental health, break down the stigma associated with mental health and urge people to talk openly about it.
Detective Chief Inspector Lynne College, of the force's Safeguarding unit, believes the service will help save lives and provide the professional support people in crisis need.
She said: "Already we are seeing the benefits of this system and I have no doubt it will help save lives. It is with the support of our fantastic partnershipswiththelikesofMissingPeople,thatwecanprovide a full service of wrap-around carefromtherightprofessionals.”
"Often in a mental health crisis people don't want to be contacted by police and this is an excellent way of being able to reach out to those in need."
Beth Hodges, of charity Missing People, added: "Our partnership with the Samaritans has enabled us to reach many missing people at a point of crisis in their lives.” For Sunderland and South Tyneside Universal Crisis Team call 0800 6522 867
(ThosewhoareDeaf/hardof hearingcantext07889036280)