Anyone in the furnishing industry can get free and confidential support through a new text-based service.
The industry’s charity, the Furniture Makers’ Company, has teamed up with fellow charity Mental Health Innovations and its support service Shout. Shout is a silent and anonymous service that can help with issues such as anxiety, bullying, depression, loneliness or isolation, money worries, relationship problems, self-harm, stress and suicide. Shout Volunteers are available around the clock to listen and support anyone who is struggling to cope.
To start a conversation, text the word COMFORT to 85258. If you’re feeling anxious, lonely, overwhelmed, suicidal or not quite yourself, Shout’s volunteers are here for you. After you send the first message, you’ll receive four automated text messages before you connect to a trained Shout Volunteer. This will usually be within five minutes, but at busy times it can take longer.
The volunteer will introduce themselves and ask you to share a bit more about what’s worrying you. This might include feeling anxious, having relationship problems, addiction, depression, bullying or harassment, self-harm or suicide. They will listen and talk with you silently, via text message. You only need to share what you feel comfortable sharing.
The goal of the conversation is to help you reach a calm and safe place, with a plan of how to support yourself going forwards. As well as listening without judgement, our volunteers may provide you with further resources or tools to help you get more expert support.
Your text conversation will only end when the volunteer is sure you are calm and feeling better. Conversations tend to last around 40 minutes.
‘We’re proud to partner with Mental Health Innovations to offer free and confidential support round the clock to anyone who needs to talk. Simply text the word COMFORT to 85258 to be connected to a trained volunteer who can help with anything you’re struggling with, including anxiety, stress, loneliness or depression. If your life is at imminent risk, call the emergency services on 999. With the current cost of living crisis putting additional pressure on families up and down the country, now more than ever there may be people struggling and unaware of where to turn. We hope our new text support service will provide comfort to those working in our trade who need someone to talk to,’ says Jonny Westbrooke, Furniture Makers’ Company ceo.
‘We are pleased to be working with the Furniture Makers’ Company to raise crucial awareness of mental health and let anyone working in the UK furnishing industry know that free, confidential help is available to them 24/7 through Shout. Whatever you’re going through, our trained volunteers are here to support you around the clock and work with you to find a way forward. Our partnership will help more people who are struggling to cope get the support they need, when they need it,’ says Victoria Hornby Mental Health Innovations ceo.
