Text advice for physical and mental health of children
A NEW text service has been launched to help parents get help, advice and support about their child’s physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
The new ChatHealth service is available to all parents living in Hampshire – although not in Portsmouth – with school-aged children aged between five and 19.
The service, from Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, offers support on issues such as sleep, behaviour, toileting and health conditions.
Parents can text a question or worry to the ChatHealth number on 07507 332417 and a member of the school nursing service will respond within a day.
Monica Unsworth, school nursing team lead at SHNFT, said: ‘We understand these are challenging times and this can be very overwhelming for both parents and children.
‘Our parent ChatHealth service offers a safe and confidential platform for parents to ask any questions about their child’s emotional or physical wellbeing and to share any worries they may have about their children’s health.’
The service also hopes to support worried parents as children begin to go back to school, as part of government plans to ease lockdown restrictions put in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Laura Din, mum to sevenyear-old Darcey, said: ‘These are just such worrying times for any parent. You just want the best for your child and to know when they go back to school that it’s a safe environment for them.
‘I really welcome the new ChatHealth service as I naturally worry about my daughter’s safety and emotional wellbeing.
‘It’s nice to know that there is a quick and easy text messaging service available.’
To use the new 5-19 ChatHealth text service, text questions to 07507 332417.