Over 60 young people across Cumbria have been helped by a new text messaging service that allows them to text Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) School Nurses with any issues for support.
Since September the ChatHealth service has been offered to every secondary school in the county and in assemblies students have been finding out how they can benefit from the confidential service.
Since the start of term the service has received 62 text messages from young people on a wide variety of issues. The three most common themes have been immunisation enquiries, social anxiety and physical health questions. Amanda Hulse, ChatHealth lead and School Nurse explains:
“The text messages coming in to the service have varied with regards to the information requests, however, the key themes identified will allow us the opportunity to provide targeted intervention which also link to our public health outcomes.
“Some of the text messages we have received have resulted in face to face meetings with the young person by the School Nursing Team, this shows that ChatHealth is helping young people gain confidence in seeking face to face contact with a member of their School Nursing Team and get the support they need.”
