Young person’s mental health and wellbeing text message service launched in North Yorkshire
NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has helped to launch a new mental health and wellbeing text message service to support young people in North Yorkshire.
Compass BUZZ is a free project which aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people (aged 5-18, or up to 25 for those with special educational needs or disability) in schools across North Yorkshire.
With the help of the Vale of York CCG and other CCGs in North Yorkshire, Compass Buzz has launched BUZZ US – a confidential text message service for young people aged 11-18 years to help support mental health and wellbeing issues.
Users can text the service on 07520 631168 to receive confidential advice, support and signposting from a wellbeing worker, who will respond via text message within 24 hours.
The text service operates 9am-5pm Monday to Thursday, and 9am-4.30pm on Friday. The service is unavailable on bank holidays.
NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby CCG (HRW CCG) leads the commissioning of children and young people’s health services on behalf of Vale of York CCG, Harrogate and Rural District CCG and Scarborough and Ryedale CCG.
Dr Louise Barker, Vale of York CCG’s Clinical Lead for Mental Health and Learning Disability Services, said: “The launch of this new service is great news for North Yorkshire as it will hopefully provide young people with a convenient outlet to seek support or advice about any mental health and wellbeing issues they might experience.
“This is a fine example of local clinical commissioning groups working together to provide a service which has been tailored to meet the needs of the people it has been designed to help, and delivered on a platform which they can easily access.”
Lisa Gale, Service Manager for Compass BUZZ North Yorkshire, said: “Compass BUZZ is committed to ensuring the safety of young people. Before launching the service, we consulted with other text messaging services, police and local safeguarding to make sure that young people will receive the correct advice and support when they need it.”
For more information about the BUZZ US service, call 01609 777662 or freephone 0800 0087452.
