A free crisis text service for children and young people struggling to cope with the death of a loved one has gone live today.

Winston’s Wish – the UK’s first child bereavement charity – has launched the free, confidential and anonymous text line, called Crisis Messenger, to help children and young people who find themselves feeling unable to cope and in need of urgent support.

The service, which is powered by trusted partners Shout and Crisis Text Line, can be accessed by texting WW to 85258, and will be accessible at any time of day, on every day of the year, including Christmas Day.

By texting this number the person in crisis will be connected to a trained crisis volunteer who, through a completely anonymous text conversation, will aim to de-escalate the person from a place of crisis to a place of calm.

By asking questions, listening and responding with support, the charity states that the trained volunteer will help the person in crisis to sort through their feelings until they reach a calm and safe place.

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They might also signpost to other services that can provide further help and continued support.

Winston’s Wish says the Crisis Messenger can help with urgent issues, including bereavement, suicidal thoughts, abuse or assault, self-harm, bullying and relationship issues.

According to the charity, the death of a parent or sibling is one of the most traumatic situations a young person can face, and the effects of losing a loved one can be profound, with consequences for mental and physical health but also social and educational impacts, such as an increased risk of under-achieving and being bullied.

Winston’s Wish adds that the festive period can be an especially painful and difficult time for young people when someone close has died, and estimates that around 41,000 children are parentally bereaved each year, with more than 100 experiencing the death of a parent on Christmas Day alone.

“Losing someone close to you is utterly devastating and it's essential that anyone who has been bereaved gets the right support, at the right time,” says Fergus Crow, CEO of Winston’s Wish.

“Sometimes that might mean late at night or in the early hours, or in a situation when speaking to someone isn’t feasible.

“The Winston’s Wish Crisis Messenger text service is available 24/7 and is completely confidential and free of charge – and so we would urge anyone who has been bereaved and finds themselves having a mental health crisis to contact us so that we may help them.”

The charity states that while the service is completely anonymous, if the volunteer believes the texter in crisis is at immediate risk of harm, they may share their details with the emergency services, who may dispatch a wellness check.

In cases when a texter is in immediate danger of suicide or homicide, as determined by a risk assessment by the crisis volunteer and supervisor, the first step is to try to work with the texter to form a safety plan. If the texter is unable to plan for their own safety, the supervisor may contact emergency services, who may dispatch a wellness check.

If you are suffering due to a bereavement and need urgent help right now, you can access support by texting WW to 85258.