The building society, which is the UK’s biggest, has branches across Birmingham and throughout the wider UK.
The building society, which is the UK’s biggest, has branches across Birmingham and throughout the wider UK.
Nationwide is set to offer “immediate” mental health help to customers in the form of a brand-new SMS support service. The building society, which is the UK’s biggest, has branches across Birmingham and throughout the wider UK.
Nationwide says the support is free and provided 24/7 and can be accessed by sending NATION to 85258. Messages won’t appear on phone bills, giving people confidence to reach out when they need it most – particularly during the hours of 9pm-2am, when Shout reports the greatest demand.
It has partnered with the mental health charity Shout, who run a free and confidential, 24/7 text messaging service, giving colleagues an additional way to help anyone they suspect may need mental health support.
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If a colleague suspects someone is struggling, they can guide them to text NATION to 85258 at any time, day or night and connect them within minutes to a trained volunteer, supervised by clinicians, for immediate one-to-one support.
Kathryn Townsend, Head of Customer Vulnerability at Nationwide said: “We know mental health challenges can hit without warning – often alongside financial difficulty.
“For some, talking on the phone feels impossible or is impossible – our partnership with Shout gives our customer-facing teams an additional tool to provide customers with an accessible, safe and confidential way to get help 24/7.
“From keeping every branch open until 2030, offering safe spaces for those experiencing domestic abuse, in-branch Dementia UK clinics and our range of new Easy Read guides, Nationwide continues to strive to make banking fairer, more accessible and more inclusive.”
Francesca Hughes, Partnerships Manager for Mental Health Innovations said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be partnering with Nationwide on this exciting initiative.
“Together, we’re using digital innovation to make mental health support more accessible and immediate, helping Nationwide customers and family members look after their wellbeing in a simple and confidential way by texting ‘NATION’ to 85258.
“The service is available 24/7, offering support whenever it’s needed and we know that for many people, those moments often come late at night when worries can feel hardest to manage.
“This partnership ensures no one has to face those moments alone. It represents a shared belief that early, confidential support can make a life-changing difference.”
