Pictured: Dr. Raquel Dias shows the types of daily text messages that individuals receive through Text4Support, tailored for mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, psychosis and more. Credit: Darren Hubley
‘You’ve had such a big impact on my life through these messages’
A self-described animal lover and advocate, Naomi Gould is incredibly passionate about spending time with her pets including her two-year-old German shepherd and a rescue cat named Cheddar.
The Halifax resident loves nature and is fiercely committed to raising awareness of mental health programs, like Text4Support, that she credits for helping change her life.
Naomi shares that she began receiving her first Text4Support messages following a visit to the QEII’s Emergency Department.
Text4Support was recommended by a psychiatrist as part of Naomi’s ongoing treatment and care. The program sends automated, daily texts to individuals, like Naomi, that can complement the mental health services they’re already accessing and are tailored to help address the recipient’s specific diagnosis.
It quickly became a resource that the 24-year-old looked forward to.
“I would read every single message and I still have them saved and look back through them to this day,” explains Naomi. “At the time, I was in a really dark place and the program was really impactful on me because it was something positive to look forward to every day.”
While she found the daily advice and resources helpful, what was most beneficial to Naomi was feeling like she was “not alone” – especially in between care appointments.
“I know firsthand that it can be hard for loved ones to comfort and help someone who is not in the best place mentally,” says Naomi. “The text messages you receive can help in a way that doesn’t involve talking – they’re there every day and you just read and take from them what you need.”
Text4Support launched in Nova Scotia two years ago as part of a pilot program and research study, initially limiting the number of individuals who could benefit. Thanks, in part, to QEII Foundation donor support and overwhelming response to the program, it has since expanded. It’s now a digital health tool that’s fully integrated within mental health and addictions services across the province.
“I’m so grateful that these texts were available,” says Naomi (pictured below). “They really helped along with counselling and medication – they definitely changed my life.”
According to Naomi, she’s also grateful to the 540 QEII Foundation donors who helped fund Text4Support through its We Are campaign – including Canada Life and the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia – ensuring the program is available to more patients in need.
It’s a sentiment echoed by Dr. Vincent Agyapong, Text4Support creator, Nova Scotia Health chief of psychiatry (Central Zone) and head of psychiatry at Dalhousie University.
“Our mental health care teams are incredibly grateful to all the donors who’ve invested in Text4Support – making this important tool and research a reality for patients in our province,” he says.
As part of the ongoing research and evaluation of Text4Support, mental health leaders like Dr. Agyapong are examining the role these daily texts can play in helping to decrease stress, anxiety and suicidal thoughts among patients, as well as reducing emergency department visits and hospital admissions.
“Through this critical research, we are investigating the effectiveness of a supportive texting service and how it can help reduce patients’ symptoms and increase overall recovery and well-being,” says Dr. Agyapong.
Dr. Raquel Dias, research associate and Text4Support program manager, shares that the program currently has 1,269 subscribers.
Preliminary data shows that the majority of patients receiving the Text4Support intervention reported that the text messages were supportive and to the point (84 per cent), while nearly 50 per cent reported that Text4Support helped improve their mental well-being.
The early results are promising for Dr. Dias, who believes adopting digital health tools like Text4Support are a critical next step for modernizing mental health services.
“We need to think about the mental health of the next generation, and text messaging is a simple technology used by people of all ages,” says Dr. Dias.
As Dr. Agyapong explains, Text4Support can provide critical support right at a patient’s fingertips and helps break down potential barriers to care.
“Text4Support is not a substitute for face-to-face services for those who require it, but it is an added resource and provides an immediate service for those who subscribe,” says Dr. Agyapong. “By supporting many people simultaneously via text message, it can play a role in closing care access gaps,” says Dr. Agyapong.
While Naomi recently completed the six-month Text4Support program, she’s hopeful that more programs like it will become available for Nova Scotians.
“So many of us are connected to our phones, which makes this such an easy way to access a different kind of support,” says Naomi. “I want to thank the people who donated to make this program possible – I don’t know you, but you’ve had such a big impact on my life through these messages.”
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If you or a loved one needs help now, the Provincial Mental Health and Addictions crisis line is always available at 1 888 429 8167.