A new text-based mental health service, the first of its kind in Ireland, has been launched.

Anyone going through a mental health or emotional crisis can text the service at 50808, where crisis volunteers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They can provide support ranging from a calming chat to more immediate support, such as calling an ambulance for somebody in danger.

The service uses an artificial intelligence (AI) system to analyse the texter's initial message, scanning it for keywords, phrases and even emojis to determine the level of severity. Those considered to be most at risk are placed at the top of the queue.

The service, which is funded by the HSE, began a pilot last September and since then, it has provided support to over 3,800 people through more than 6,600 conversations.

The HSE expects support to be provided to over 50,000 people per year once fully operational.

Of the more than 3,800 people supported as part of the pilot, 832 were thinking about suicide and 360 were self-harming.

In fact, over 100 ‘active responses' have been carried out by the service since September, during which the National Ambulance Service was contacted for a texter in need of emergency support.

The main issues discussed during the pilot were anxiety/stress (40%), depression/sadness (32%), relationships (29%), isolation/loneliness (23%) and suicide (18%).

Some 80% of texters were between the ages of 16 and 34 and the main reasons given for texting were:
-Didn't have anyone else to talk to (50%)
-Wanted to talk to someone who didn't know me (48%)
-More comfortable texting than talking (40%)
-Too embarrassed to talk on the phone or in person (31%)
-Didn't have access to a therapist (31%).

"Many people, particularly young people, don't feel comfortable making that call or reaching out for help. This is a service that will offer a lifeline to people of all ages. It is free, anonymous and inclusive.

"It's been an exceptionally difficult time for our country, and this service is needed more than ever. I have no doubt it will save lives," commented the Minister for Health, Simon Harris.

According to the service's CEO, Ian Power, it now has over 300 trained crisis volunteers providing free, anonymous support to people who are struggling with issues, big and small.

"We're also using technology to ensure we're getting to the texters who need us most first, and using data to understand our texter's needs and improve the service," he explained.

The service's crisis volunteers complete 30 hours of training and are always supervised by full-time mental health professionals. If you would like to use the service, text 50808.