The weight of the world right now feels too heavy for many young people to carry. The news cycle shouts stories of crises both biological and systemic, from the COVID-19 pandemic keeping much of the globe on lockdown, to the racial inequality and brutal acts of police brutality sparking riots in countries across every continent.

It can be difficult, in amongst all this, to support and prioritise mental health and for individuals to take the time to make sense of how they are feeling. In the wake of this to offer people in the UK support and guidance, Shout have launched a new crisis text helpline.

The helpline has seen a marked increase in people texting for support since the UK went into lockdown, noticeably from key workers, but also young people who are finding the current situation particularly difficult.

And Rising worked with Shout to create a campaign that would raise awareness of the service, encouraging more people to let their fingers do the talking when perhaps a phone conversation proves too difficult to have. By texting Shout to 85258, people can have a confidential chat with a trained Crisis Volunteer.

The campaign highlights the various reasons people might have for needing to use the helpline, from Sunday night blues, to relationship problems, feeling isolated, lonely, anxious or having suicidal thoughts. It also encourages people to remember the number itself. The TV slot, set to the beat of an especially adapted version of the track ‘Therapy’ by New York DJ/Producer Marc Rebillet, captured famous faces like Amir Khan, Matthew Beard, Adele Roberts and Dame Kelly Holmes creating the numbers 82528 with their fingers, whilst challenging the nation to do the same on TikTok and Instagram.

Powered by a team of more than 1,800 trained volunteers, Shout offers people a confidential line of support that they can use wherever they are. While there is power in talking to another over the phone, a text service carries particular importance at a time when people may be living and working alongside others and perhaps finding it difficult to find a private space. Shout’s service emphasises that, no matter how big or small your problem may seem, there is always someone to turn to in times of need.