What Shout does

Shout is the UK's only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging mental health crisis service, operated by the registered charity Mental Health Innovations (Charity No. 1175670) and built on the US Crisis Text Line model. Users initiate contact by texting "SHOUT" to short-code 85258 from any major UK mobile network, where they are connected to trained volunteers communicating through a secure instant messenger-style platform. Every conversation is overseen by Clinical Supervisors with Masters-level credentials or commensurate crisis intervention experience, and the platform supports safety planning, de-escalation, and structured handoffs. The underlying technology is a digital text messaging platform developed by Mental Health Innovations, with anonymised conversation data feeding a formal research collaboration with Imperial College London (Institute of Global Health Innovation, EPSRC Centre for Mathematics of Precision Healthcare, and Data Science Institute). Since public launch in May 2019, Shout Volunteers have taken more than 3 million conversations with approximately 1.2 million children, young people and adults, at a current run-rate of roughly 2,000 conversations per day and a contact every 53 seconds. A self-reported suicide prevention study attributes at least 126 suicides prevented and £252 million of economic savings to the service in its first three years.

Name

Shout

Legal name

Mental Health Innovations

Website

https://giveusashout.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Shout is the UK's only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging mental health crisis service, operated by charity Mental Health Innovations; users text "SHOUT" to 85258 to reach trained volunteers, with 1.2M+ people supported across 3M+ conversations since 2019.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Crisis Support Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Crisis Support, Suicide Prevention & Acute Behavioral Triage Platforms (HLALAEAI)

Keywords

• Crisis text support
• Mental health services
• Suicide prevention
• Volunteer crisis line
• Digital mental health

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Members of the public can make one-off or monthly donations. £10 can cover a life-saving conversation. Donations can be made via JustGiving, PayPal, easyfundraising, and payroll giving through GoodPAYE.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Companies partner with Shout for CSR initiatives, employee fundraising, mental health support for workforce, and Charity of the Year nominations. Partners include Wagamama, The George, Ardent Group, The Restaurant Group, Bank of England, and MS Amlin.
3. Fundraising Events: Running events, walking challenges, cycling events, trekking expeditions, skydiving, and community fundraisers. Charity places offered at discounted rates with fundraising minimums.
4. NHS Funding: The NHS funds local crisis text services across England, with support coordinated through NHS partners.
5. Network Carrier Support: Mobile networks (EE, O2, Three, Vodafone, BT Mobile, Tesco Mobile, Virgin Mobile, iD Mobile, Sky, Telecom Plus, Lebara, GiffGaff) provide the text service free and 'off bill' to users.
6. Legacy Gifts: Individuals can leave gifts in their will to Mental Health Innovations to support future mental health services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Shout provides the UK's only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging mental health crisis support service, where users text SHOUT to 85258 to connect with trained volunteers supervised by clinical professionals for immediate de-escalation, safety planning, and suicide prevention support. The service has handled over 3 million conversations with nearly 1.2 million people in distress and operates approximately 2,000 conversations per day.

Product overview

Shout is a digital mental health service ecosystem comprising three main offerings: the core Shout 85258 crisis text service (24/7 confidential text messaging for anyone in mental health crisis), PeerChat (a scheduled online chat service for 16-25 year olds delivered through The Mix partnership), and The Mix (a broader digital ecosystem for under-25s offering coaching, content, community and crisis support). All services are powered by the parent charity Mental Health Innovations, which also provides research partnerships and data insights.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PeerChat: An online chat service for people aged 16-25, run by The Mix, connecting users with trained peer supporters close to their age.

Products and services

• Shout 85258 Free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging crisis support service for anyone in the UK experiencing mental health distress. Users text SHOUT to 85258 to connect with trained volunteers supervised by clinical professionals for de-escalation, safety planning, and suicide prevention.
• PeerChat Scheduled online chat service for people aged 16-25 that connects them with trained peer supporters close to their own age. Delivered in partnership with The Mix, providing non-crisis peer support.
• The Mix Digital ecosystem supporting young people under 25 through coaching, content, community and crisis support. Operated by Mental Health Innovations alongside Shout.

Quantifiable outcome

• 126 suicides prevented in first three years of operation
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nationwide Building SocietycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 November 2025Nationwide Building Society partnered with Shout to offer customers and colleagues a 24/7 confidential text messaging service for mental health support. Users text 'NATION' to 85258 to connect within minutes with a trained volunteer supervised by clinicians, with particular availability during high-demand hours of 9pm-2am. Part of Nationwide's strategy to improve accessibility for vulnerable and disabled customers.
• WagamamaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting Shout through employee fundraising and engagement activities.
• The GeorgeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner with Shout, participating in employee fundraising and CSR initiatives.
• Ardent GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting Shout's mental health mission through workplace engagement.
• The Restaurant GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner of Shout, involved in employee fundraising and charity of the year programs.
• Bank of EnglandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting Shout through employee engagement and fundraising activities.
• MS AmlinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner with Shout for workplace mental health support and fundraising.
• Imperial College LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental Health Innovations has a research partnership with Imperial College London, working with researchers at the Institute of Global Health Innovation, EPSRC Centre for Mathematics of Precision Healthcare, and Data Science Institute. Uses anonymised data to generate insights into UK mental health.
• The MixcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Mix is Shout's sister organization, powered by the same parent charity Mental Health Innovations. Provides free, anonymous online advice for young people and runs PeerChat for under-25s alongside Shout's text service.
• Will Young (Patron)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMusician and mental health campaigner Will Young is Shout's first ever patron, bringing expertise from the creative arts. Previously collaborated through his Wellstock Foundation, launching FONO events with artists like Ed Sheeran.
• EE, O2, Three, VodafonecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor UK mobile networks provide the Shout text service free and 'off bill' to service users. This enables free access for anyone in crisis.
• BT Mobile, Tesco Mobile, Virgin Mobile, iD Mobile, Sky, Telecom Plus, Lebara, GiffGaffcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional mobile networks providing the Shout text service free and 'off bill' to service users across the UK.
• GoodPAYEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPayroll giving partner allowing employees to donate to Shout directly from their salary in a tax-efficient manner.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Mix: Shout's sister organisation under Mental Health Innovations, providing free digital support for under-25s. Operates PeerChat alongside Shout and shares infrastructure, leadership, and funding sources — making it the closest operating peer.
• Crisis Text Line: The US-based originator of the 24/7 text-based crisis intervention model on which Shout is built. Provides the same core service — free, confidential, volunteer-staffed crisis texting — and remains Shout's technology and operating model parent.
• SANE: UK mental health charity providing emotional support, information, and crisis resources for people affected by mental illness. Overlaps with Shout on crisis-line operation and mental health awareness fundraising.
• Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): UK charity leading a movement against suicide, offering a helpline and webchat. Targets overlapping crisis demographics and competes for the same donor and corporate partnership funding pool as Shout.

Broad incumbents

• Childline (NSPCC): UK free, private helpline for children and young people, run by the NSPCC. Comparable in serving distressed young UK audiences with confidential support, though delivered via voice and online chat rather than SMS.
• Samaritans: The UK's largest established emotional support charity, offering a free 24/7 helpline and email service. Operates in the same crisis support category as Shout but via voice and email rather than SMS, serving overlapping at-risk populations.

Emerging players

• Togetherall (formerly Big White Wall): Digital mental health platform offering anonymous peer-to-peer support and self-help tools, commissioned by NHS and university clients. Represents a more clinically integrated alternative for the same at-risk populations.

Regional players

• Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide: UK charity focused specifically on suicide prevention in young people, operating HOPELINEUK. Overlaps with Shout on crisis intervention for under-35s in the UK, addressing a narrower demographic.
• YoungMinds: UK charity focused on children and young people's mental health, providing helpline support, resources, and crisis information. Competes for the same youth mental health funding and corporate partnership ecosystem.

Others

• Text 85258 (US): Refers to the US 85258 shortcode operated by Crisis Text Line, the international reference implementation that Shout directly mirrors. Relevant as a technology and operational benchmark rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GiveUsAShout
• Facebookfacebook.com/giveusashoutuk
• Instagraminstagram.com/giveusashoutinsta

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shout