SignHealth Crisis Text Message Service Powered by Shout

If you are a Deaf person experiencing a mental health crisis, you can text our Crisis Text-based service for free 24/7 and receive immediate support.

The SignHealth Crisis Messenger is powered by our partners Shout and Crisis Text Line.

How does it work?

If you need some immediate support, TEXT DEAF to the number 85258.

The trained Crisis Volunteer will introduce themselves, reflect on what you’ve said, and invite you to share at your own pace and what you feel comfortable with.

The Crisis volunteer will help you sort through your feelings until you both feel you are now in a calm, safe place. You might be signposted with other services that includes SignHealth Psychological Therapy Service, Domestic Abuse Service or Samaritans to provide you with further help.

Help with urgent issues such as:

Suicidal thoughts
Abuse or assault
Self-harm
Bullying
Relationship issues

You can text us free and anonymously – although if the volunteer believes you are at immediate risk of harm, they may share your details with people who can provide support.

It is free and confidential to text our service from the following major networks:

EE, O2, Three and Vodafone.

These include – BT Mobile, Tesco Mobile, Virgin Mobile, iD Mobile, Sky, Telecom Plus, Lebara and GiffGaff.

Some Android phones issue a warning that you will be charged for texting us, provided you are on one of these networks this warning is incorrect, and you will not be charged.

If you text us from a network that is not on this list there is a possibility that you may be charged for the messages and that they may appear on your bill, this is because some networks do not provide the capability to message short codes.

SignHealth partners with Shout and launches a new Crisis Text Line for Deaf people

September 10, 2019

As part of World Suicide Prevention Day, SignHealth, powered by Shout, is launching a new free text message service to support Deaf people who are in crisis. Owned by Mental Health Innovations and with the support of The Royal Foundation the service is run by Shout trained staff and volunteers and it is available 24/7.

The exciting new partnership between SignHealth and Shout provides a unique opportunity for Deaf people to reach out anywhere, at any time. Deaf people who need help with urgent issues such as suicidal thoughts, abuse or assault, self-harm, bullying or relationship issues will now be able to access support immediately. If you’re Deaf and experiencing a personal crisis, unable to cope and need support, text DEAF to the number 85258.

SignHealth CEO James Watson-O’Neill, said:

“SignHealth is very pleased to be working with Shout to make this service available to the Deaf community. We are confident it will make a huge difference to Deaf people who need support when in a time of crisis”.

“Getting the right support is important, especially with a mental health crisis. SignHealth’s new service, powered by Shout, aims to offer Deaf people immediate support by connecting them with a trained Shout volunteer promptly 24 hours a day.”

Access to mainstream crisis mental health services for Deaf people is almost non-existent, and yet Deaf people are twice as likely to experience mental health problems than hearing people, facing communication barriers and difficulties accessing healthcare. The anonymised data gives a unique insight into mental health trends within the Deaf community and will therefore help improve people’s lives who have struggled to gain immediate support in the past.

Media Contacts:

SignHealth Communications Office:

Telephone: 020 3947 2600

Notes to editors:

About SignHealth: SignHealth is the Deaf health charity led by Deaf people for Deaf people, including our award-winning Board of Trustees. We are dedicated to making sure Deaf people get the same access to healthcare and health information as hearing people and we exist to improve Deaf people’s health and wellbeing through our social care services, psychological therapy and domestic abuse services.

About Shout: Shout is the UK’s first free 24/7 confidential text service for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate help. Shout is powered by a team of volunteers, who are at the heart of the service. The technology powering the Crisis Text Line is from the US. For more information, visit https://www.giveusashout.org/

For more information about SignHealth, visit https://www.signhealth.org.uk/ and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at: @SignHealth

Charity number: 1011056

To use the service, please click here

SignHealth partners with Shout to launch a new crisis Text line for Deaf people

SignHealth CEO James Watson-O’Neill, said:

Media Contacts:

SignHealth Communications Office:

Telephone: 020 3947 2600

Notes to editors:

For more information about SignHealth, visit https://www.signhealth.org.uk/ and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at: @SignHealth

Charity number: 1011056

To use the service, please click here

What happens when my therapy starts?

You will meet a therapist in your local area, normally at your GP surgery. The first time you meet, the therapist will ask questions to help understand how you are feeling and to make sure the therapy you receive matches your needs.

Questions will cover:

– Your thoughts and feelings

– Your physical health

– Any medication you may be taking

– Your hopes and aspirations for the future

After the initial assessment, together with your therapist you will decide what type of therapy would be better for you. You will usually meet every week on a 1-1 basis for an hour. Most people have a block of 10 therapy sessions although this can change from person to person.

What happens at the end of therapy?

When you have finished seeing your therapist you will be asked to fill in a questionnaire. This will help us think about how we can improve our service. We want to make sure that the service we provide is right and if changes need to be made to suit different people, we will try and make them.

If after a few months or a few years you begin to feel unwell again you can re-refer yourself to see someone. It’s best that you see your doctor or refer yourself as soon as possible because the longer a problem is left the more difficult it is to get well again.

Why Relationships Matter: Mental Health Awareness Week 2016

May 17, 2016

Mental Health Awareness Week (16-20 May) is focusing this year on good relationships. Positive relationships with others are fundamental to our health and wellbeing. In fact, they are as important as other factors we know are good for us like stopping smoking, healthy eating and exercise.

People who have good, strong relationships feel less stressed. They are less likely to become unwell and if they are unwell, recover more quickly and feel more supported.

The Mental Health Foundation is challenging everyone to prioritise relationships during Mental Health Awareness Week and commit to making a relationship resolution. The resolution looks at how much time we spend on our relationships and how we can build on them and improve them.

So how can we look after the relationships we have?

Make time to nurture important relationships. We can be so busy with work and daily tasks that we forget to do this.
Be present: When you’re with friends and family, don’t check your phone all the time. Be present in the moment and there for your loved ones. This week is also Walk to School week. Why not spend some time walking your children to school and talking to them?
Listen: Actively listen to what others have to say in a non-judgmental way. Concentrate on what they are saying and their needs.
Be listened to: Talk honestly about how you are feeling. Allow others to listen to and support you.
Recognise unhealthy relationships: Are certain relationships making you unhappy? Recognising these can help you move forward and find solutions to issues that are affecting you badly.
Join in: Be part of your community. Why not volunteer or join a group such as a choir.

If you are worried about your mental health or someone you know, contact BSL Healthy Minds. BSL Healthy Minds is a therapy and counselling service delivered in British Sign Language which helps Deaf people who are struggling to live with anxiety, depression and similar problems. You can also check out our Facebook page, where we share videos in BSL on mental health issues and how you can get support.

Image Credit: Federico Feroldi

BSL Healthy Minds call for two deaf service users

April 5, 2016

SignHealth’s BSL Healthy Minds is partnering with the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP) to write guidelines on commissioning mental health services for Deaf people in primary care.

BSL Healthy Minds and the RCP are setting up an Expert Reference Group (ERG) which includes academics, service providers, therapists and commissioners. The group will help develop the guidelines and we are looking for Deaf services users who could also help with this exciting work.
We are seeking two Deaf service users who have been through primary care (both Deaf and hearing services) to join the ERG. They will give their views and feedback on what they would like commissioners to know about mental health services for Deaf people.

https://vimeo.com/161486810
If you’re interested in taking part, what should you expect? You would need to come to two meetings. The next meeting is in London on Thursday 14th April and will be three hours long. We will pay for your travel and you will also be paid £50 for attending the meeting.
If you are interested please get in touch with Celia Hulme via the BSL Healthy Minds or SignHealth Facebook pages or email:

Image Credit: Alan Levine

Claire’s Story

When Claire became depressed she was referred to a hearing therapist – a person who didn’t understand her culture or background as a deaf woman. Claire’s story demonstrates why therapy delivered directly to deaf people in British Sign Language is vital.

Claire first became depressed following the births of her two children. After the birth of her second child her depression became worse and she struggled to cope. Yet she knew that she needed to control her life for the sake of herself and her family:

“I tried to switch off, I tried to move on. I had to for my two children, I had to focus on them,’ she says.

Claire hid her depression from the rest of the world; only she and her partner knew how desperate she was. She was becoming more and more isolated, spending time alone at home with the children and hiding from the outside world.

“I felt uncomfortable going out. I felt people were looking at me and I became paranoid that they knew something was wrong.”

Claire knew she needed to solve her problems so that she could return to her normal self and enjoy life again. She was referred to a hearing therapist and was pleased that an interpreter had been organized. However, when the therapy started she didn’t find it easy. Her therapist had never delivered therapy via an interpreter and communication broke down. To make things worse, Claire felt uncomfortable as she knew her interpreter from college.

“The doctor would listen to me and then respond by asking questions using really complex English. It made no sense to me. He wasn’t matching my needs as a deaf person at all.”

Claire feels she would benefit from seeing a deaf therapist who could communicate with her in her own language and understand her culture and concerns.

“If I had the opportunity to see a deaf therapist, it’s a real possibility that my symptoms would improve. I’d be able to express all my worries and problems in my own language… it would be so much easier to answer questions and talk,” she says.

Sadly for many people like Claire, accessing therapy in BSL can be difficult. Many have to wait months to get an appointment and in some areas funding is not available.

“We need to see deaf therapists faster so that our lives can get back on track sooner,’ says Claire. “Having the chance to talk about how I’m feeling will help me so much. I’ll get my identity back.”

Join SignHealth’s campaign for Deaf people to receive Therapy the Deaf Way.

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Here’s how you can help

1) Write ‘I Support ‪#‎TherapyTheDeafWay‬‘ on a piece of paper.

2) Take a photo of yourself holding the paper.

3) Post your photo on Facebook or Twitter and add the hasthtag #TherapyTheDeafWay

4) Sign the petition

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I Support #TherapyTheDeafWay

February 24, 2016

Deaf people are twice as likely as hearing people to experience mental health problems, yet they do not have equal access to psychological services.

Hearing people with mental health problems get to see a hearing therapist who can communicate in their language. But do deaf people get to see a deaf therapist who can sign? NO.

Deaf people do not have the same access to appropriate mental health services as hearing people. We want that to change.

Please help us with our campaign by taking a photograph of yourself with ‘I Support #TherapyTheDeafWay’ written on a piece of paper. Upload your photo to Facebook or Twitter, tag either BSL Healthy Minds or SignHealth (or both!) and add the hashtag #TherapyTheDeafWay.

Share it with as many people as possible! We need to get Jeremy Hunt to listen.

The power of Facebook within the Deaf community

February 19, 2016

Sarah Powell is a Clinical Psychologist working for BSL Healthy Minds, the deaf psychological therapy service from SignHealth. Here she explains the power of social media within the Deaf community.

A recent article published by BBC journalist Charlie Swinbourne highlights the power of Facebook within the sign language community. It echoes the usefulness of social media within our service, BSL Healthy Minds.

As you may or may not know, we have an active presence online. Twitter and Facebook give us a platform to promote our service and engage with our core service users. It also helps us to educate Deaf people about mental health and wellbeing.

Historically there has been a lack of information about mental health and wellbeing in British Sign Language (BSL). Although some videos have been produced, they’re often limited to video and DVD copies, reducing their reach and proving a costly exercise to send out.

Every day, hearing people pick up key messages about mental health by flicking through magazines, seeing posters or overhearing other people’s conversations. But deaf people don’t have that level of access. If you’re deaf, you can’t listen to the radio or conversations happening around you. You acquire information much later than your hearing peers, if at all.

In 2015 BSL Healthy Minds made the decision to share more BSL content online, posting two minute long BSL videos on our Facebook page. Examples included the benefits of walking, how to practice mindfulness and giving tips about recognising symptoms of depression. The videos have been incredibly well received. One clip in particular, which explained the benefit of reaching out to friends and family to check on their wellbeing, has received over 30,000 views.

Facebook has given Deaf people the opportunity to talk openly about mental health. The BSL Healthy Minds page gives people a place to share their experiences, ask for advice and seek support. Deaf people are so often subject to isolation and many will tell you about the barriers they face when trying to access help, but with the encouragement they find through Facebook, early intervention has become so much more achievable.

A great example of this success can be seen with one of our recent videos explaining the benefits of keeping busy. After posting the video online, numerous conversations evolved, with members of the deaf community actively sharing tips and advice to help their peers. Some suggested starting a new hobby, trying out a new recipe or visiting new places.

Another video explained the importance of taking medication properly, it also touched upon possible side effects and how to deal with them. Since posting that video, some Deaf who have been unsure about the medication they take have visited their GP for clarification. Albeit small, these are important steps to improve to the wellbeing of Deaf people.

Aims for the future

The BSL Healthy Minds team will continue to upload clips in BSL, subtitling them to maximise accessibility. We are aware that Facebook isn’t for everyone and therefore some people will not be able to view our clips, so we are also working on new and alternative ways to reach other people from the deaf community.

If you would like to talk a look at the videos we have made, please like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. Your support will help us improve the health and wellbeing of deaf people.

Image Credit: Bhupinder Nayyar