April 25, 2006
Samaritans launch text help service
The Samaritans charity have launched a round-the-clock text support service for people in emotional distress, reports The Guardian via SMS Text News.
"A Samaritans volunteer will text back within 10 minutes and the service will be available in the UK and Republic of Ireland 365 days a year.
The charity was the first to offer emotional support by email in 1994 and now believes texting can help more people reach help. Volunteers have been trained in understanding abbreviated text language they may receive.
... Confidentiality is maintained by the technology, routing text messages centrally and then onto Samaritans branches, which take the messages and compose replies within 160 text characters."
Related service: - Text helpline for pupils launched by UK charity Barnardo's
Related article today on e therapy in the Pioneer Press
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