Why Text
Around half of people with a mental health concern never access support.
Many find phone or face to face services too confronting, too inconvenient or simply unavailable.
Text counselling breaks down these barriers.
It’s easy to use.
It’s safe.
The customer doesn’t have to go anywhere. And no-one has to know they are having a counselling session.
It’s all done via text or video, on a phone.
Sessions are pre booked via a 24/7 self service booking feature. All counselling sessions take place with a qualified mental health professional and they last an hour.
Why do people prefer text-based counselling?
Recent survey feedback shows that the reasons customers prefer text-based counselling-
- Less confronting (62% of customers agree)
- Convenient (78% of customers agree)
- Allows multitasking (38% of customers agree)
- Better availability (54% of customers agree)
- Safe space to be honest (56% of customers agree)
- Storage of conversations (43% of customers agree)
"I get extremely anxious when having to make calls. So, it gave me time to work out what I was trying to say as I could write it out and read it over"
"I found texting less confronting then speaking to someone by phone or face to face as it was less emotional"
Many people feel that typing allows them time for self-reflection and the ability to express themselves with less anxiety when sharing.
It has become even more important for people to have the ability to have conversations that cannot be overheard by others in the same household or workplace – text-counselling allows just that. Giving a safe space and a private platform for people to obtain professional support.
Research shows that if text counselling had not been available – 44% of corporate customers & 67% of all rural and regional people would not have reached out for support.
In addition, if text counselling had not been available 42% of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) individuals would not have accessed mental health support.
Did you know: Over 300 languages are spoken in Australia
- 1 in 5 (21%) people speak a non-English language at home
- English is not the first language for 15% or 3.5 million people
Sources: ABS 2017a, 2017b.
Company Benefits
- Cost effective
- Improved productivity
- Decreased burnout
- Higher staff retention
- Greater staff satisfaction
- Increased staff engagement
“Every dollar spent on effective workplace mental health actions may generate $2.30 in benefits to an organisation.”
(Source: https://www.headsup.org.au/)
