A better Medway

Mental health helplines

Release the Pressure - call 

Feeling distressed, anxious or down? Phone Mental Health Matters on 0800 107 0160. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The helpline has a team of highly trained and experienced support workers who provide emotional guidance and information.

Visit helplines.org

Release the Pressure - text 

If you do not want to call, you can text the word Medway to 85258 for confidential, expert support.

This service is free from most mobile phone networks and will not show up on your phone bill. It's available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

It is free to text from the following major networks:

  • EE
  • O2
  • Three
  • Vodafone
  • BT Mobile
  • Tesco Mobile
  • Virgin Mobile
  • iD Mobile
  • Sky
  • Telecom Plus
  • Lebara
  • GiffGaff.

Some Android phones give a warning that you'll be charged for texting us. If you're on one of the networks listed above, this warning is incorrect and you will not be charged.

If you text us from a network that's not on this list, there's a possibility that you may be charged for the messages and that they may appear on your bill. This applies to a very small minority of operators.

It's not possible to text the service from some networks, which do not provide the capability to message short codes. These include Lyca mobile. If your message will not send, or if you do not receive an automated message in response, it could mean that the service is not working. If in doubt, please contact your mobile phone network before texting, or email info@giveusahout.org. This service is powered by our trusted partners, Shout and Crisis Text Line.

The Samaritans

The helpline provides confidential, non-judgmental emotional support.

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 116 123.

Visit The Samaritans website.