Is the texting helpline shout helpful? Have you had experience with them? (TW Mention sh)

Distraction

Anyone texted the helpline Shout before? I tried to call Samaritans earlier, when I was alone, but just felt like an idiot and hung up before they answered, a text helpline gives you some more time to respond I guess, it's easier

My sh thoughts are just shit and after a few years of being free it's not something I want to jump back to, I want to understand why it's like this, maybe talking to them will help, maybe it won't but it's worth a shot, right?

Or is it, are they helpful, what was your experience?

Claire28

Hi @Distraction

It’s really positive you’re thinking about reaching out for support. Phone calls can be daunting!

While I haven’t used Shout I used to volunteer for them a few years ago. Like you say it’s worth a shot if you’d like 1:1 support. As you said the support being over text will give you more time to respond and be able to express everything you want to. The volunteer you text with is there to listen to anything you want to share.

So for example if you wanted to talk about your Sh thoughts you’d have space to do that. The volunteer can also provide emotional support and suggest things like other coping mechanisms if that’s something you were interested in. Shout’s support is very much focused around you and what you feel comfy with. I believe that texts are free too!

You’ve done well to recognise that you want to understand your thoughts more. How would you say you are coping at the moment? Let us know how it goes if you do reach out. We’re here for you!

eylah

ive used shout before they try ending the chat asap idk why but they always did that for me. some seemed like robots but some were genuinely lovely. if you find calls hard id say shout is gd bc its 1-2-1 chat. but its always hours to get a reply so thats unfortunate thing abt shout it can take hours to get a response from someone. hugs 🫂

shannonxg_

anytime i’ve used shout i have had a good experience, there’s never really been a time where ive felt dismissed or anything at all!

sometimes there are long waits to get to chat to someone though but all the volunteers and supervisors are doing their best to get to answer all the chats in the queue.

chats last for around 45 minutes so you have a good amount of time to chat to someone too!

i now volunteer with shout so if you have any questions feel free to ask n i will answer if i know the answer:)

Invisible_me

For me when I have used shout twice it has taken me over 4 hours to get connected. I texted around 11pm and someone got in touch around 4am by then I fell asleep.
Papyrus if your under 35 are very quick, I found. They have like responded to emails around an 1hr after which is I know not as quick as you'd like in crisis but better than 4-5hrd.

I hope you though have a postive experience and don't be afraid to ask for help!!

Distraction

@Claire28

Hey Claire, thanks for the information!

I gave them a text in the end, they're quite good and can be helpful, it's a nice organisation, it's wholesome that people give up their time to help others through the night and/or day, there's some special people out there!

I feel like I'm on thin ice a little, I'm trying not to revert back to old ways, instead trying new things, like texting shout or going swimming but it feels more like a matter of time, rather then if and that really doesn't help cos it's like f*ck it, you know

I'm not weak, I just don't know how to get out of my head, I feel so far away at times, I feel like my chest is about to cave in, I feel like I can't grip life, like everything I've tried to build up just doesn't matter, like I'm still fighting a brick wall

I'm so tired keeping going in this state and no one knows about it, I'm dragging myself through and honestly, I just want to wave the white flag, I'm tired of trying to change this feeling, it doesn't seem to be going anywhere

And I know it's meant to get better over time, but oh my god, how much longer lol