Young people in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire are being encouraged to talk about relationships, healthy eating and sleeping among other issues through a new, direct, confidential text messaging service – ChatHealth.

The service, ChatHealth is being launched across the city by specialist staff from Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, giving young people, aged 11 to 19 the chance to seek much-needed advice and support on a wide range of health and wellbeing issues.

Any young person who uses the service – which can be accessed via 07480 635443 - will receive a message back from a healthcare professional about where to get further help if their question is urgent, and when they can expect a response.

Texts are usually replied to within one working day and cost the same as a standard text or come out of a user’s message allowance.

ChatHealth is available Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 4pm. Anyone who texts outside of those hours will receive a bounce back message explaining where to get help if their question is urgent, and when they can expect a response.

The two NHS organisations are working in partnership as part of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Healthy Child Programme.

The service has been operating across Cambridgeshire since 2018 and to date has received more than 6,300 text message and sent more than 7,500 replies.

Andrea Graves, Service Lead for the programme said: “ChatHealth is a great new line of communication for young people in Peterborough which gives an alternative way to engage with school nurses and tackle the issues that are standing in the way of their happiness.

“It has successfully operated across Cambridgeshire over the last two years, and expanding into a Peterborough is also a clear demonstration of how health services are working in partnership across the area for the benefit of all young people, their parents and carers.”

Daniel aged 14, who lives in Peterborough area, said: “ChatHealth is a great idea. I think young people in Peterborough will use it as you can text the number when you need help and no one knows who you are."  

To find out more about ChatHealth, watch the short animation here: https://vimeo.com/354621452/bc044f70ef

For further information - or for promotional materials for schools and youth groups to advertise ChatHealth - contact the Healthy Child Programme on: 0300 029 50 50.