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VERDICT

Should I use Shout 85258 (Giveusashout)?

Free, confidential 24/7 mental health text support — text SHOUT to 85258 - giveusashout.org

Depends. This is not software to buy — Shout 85258 is a free, 24/7 UK crisis text line for individuals who need support and prefer texting to calling. Don't treat it as therapy or a workplace wellbeing tool, and expect uneven conversation quality.

Confidence

Medium. Based on 24 public sources; review snippets were truncated, so no numeric Trustpilot rating could be verified.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support quality
  • Security posture

Pricing

Free

Crisis text support

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes

Best for

  • UK texters in crisis
  • People who can't or won't phone
  • NHS, council and charity signposting

Not for

  • Anyone needing therapy, diagnosis or ongoing counselling
  • Non-UK users — it's a UK service
  • Buyers shopping for wellbeing SaaS — this isn't a product

Gotchas - check before you buy

high

Not an emergency service — call 999 if life is at risk

medium

Conversations can end abruptly or feel robotic — Shout publishes case studies on both

low

Detailed user privacy notice governs your texts; read before sharing sensitive details

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Free, confidential text support available 24/7
  • No phone call needed — just text SHOUT to 85258
  • Widely signposted by NHS trusts, councils and charities
  • Two million conversations; publishes impact data openly

Cons

  • Explicitly not counselling or therapy
  • Own case studies admit abrupt endings and robotic responses
  • Trustpilot feedback reportedly skews negative
  • Volunteer-run, so conversation quality varies

Sources & method

Analyzed 10/02/2026 - 10 sources - No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

official x5review x1security x2news x2

Key stats

  • Value for money: 5/5

    Rating

  • Free

    Starting price

  • 10

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 5/5. It's completely free
  • Ease of use: 4/5. Text a shortcode; no signup or install
  • Feature depth: 2/5. Single text channel; explicitly no counselling
  • Support quality: 2/5. Trustpilot negatives; own case studies admit flaws
  • Security posture: 3/5. Publishes security page and privacy notices
  • Free Price Text SHOUT to 85258
  • 24/7 Availability Every day, UK-wide
  • 2M+ Conversations to date Per Shout's Two Million executive summary

Pricing

Crisis text support

Free

  • 24/7 text line
  • Text SHOUT to 85258
  • Confidential, volunteer-supported

Security

No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

What users say

Trustpilot reviewers report consistently negative experiences, and Shout's own published case studies acknowledge abrupt conversation endings and robotic responses.

Companies that use it

  • PlayStation UK⁹
  • Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust10
  • Brent Council
  • Poppyscotland

Companies that could

  • Coinbase Uses Samaritans instead
Full analysis

Based on 24 public sources; review snippets were truncated, so no numeric Trustpilot rating could be verified.

Free 24/7 UK crisis text line, not software. Good if you need it; not therapy, and some chats feel scripted.

Methodology

Based on 24 public sources; review snippets were truncated, so no numeric Trustpilot rating could be verified.

Sources

  1. Shout 85258 Reviews | Trustpilottrustpilot.com
    review
  2. Get help - free, 24/7, confidential mental health text supportgiveusashout.org
    official
  3. Two Million Shout Conversations - Executive Summaryshout.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com
    official
  4. Case study 1: Abrupt conversation endingsgiveusashout.org
    official
  5. Case study 2: Roboticismgiveusashout.org
    official
  6. Options for support when you can't reach Shoutgiveusashout.org
    official
  7. Product security pagegiveusashout.org
    security
  8. Shout User Privacy Noticegiveusashout.org
    security
  9. PlayStation Support UK teams up with Shoutx.com
    news
  10. Mental wellbeing - MTW NHS Trustsupport.mtw.nhs.uk
    news

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