More than 52,000 conversations were held on the ‘Text About It’ service last year, with anxiety, stress and isolation the top concerns of its users
A text helpline for young people reported an increase of almost 10 per cent in the use of its services last year, with anxiety, stress and isolation the top concerns among its users.
The Text About It service by youth website Spunout hosted over 52,000 conversations in 2025. The figure represents an a 9.4 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
Text About It is a free, anonymous, 24/7 messaging service providing everything from a calming chat to immediate support for mental health and emotional wellbeing. Of the 52,748 conversations which took place through the service in 2025, the top five biggest issues on young people’s minds were anxiety, stress, isolation, intimate relationships and school.
Separately, the organisation’s Navigator mental health signposting tool has been used by young people for more than 38,000 sessions since its launch last June.
Navigator is a web-based, mobile first service providing anonymous, immediate and personalised access to mental health information, and signposts young people to relevant local and national services for ongoing support.
“It’s clear from the increasing number of people using Text About It and Navigator that young people in Ireland are experiencing a mental health crisis,” said Spunout CEO Sinead Keane.
“While it’s positive that young people feel able to reach out for support when they need it, it’s worrying that so many are experiencing feelings of anxiety, stress and isolation.
The organisation found that its services were most popular outside of regular working hours, when many other supports are unavailable. The volume of conversations on Text About It tended to peak on Sunday nights. December was the busiest month for conversations, with the stress of the festive season appearing to be a catalyst for many young people seeking help.
“There is a real need for continued mental health promotion and education so that young people know how to access reliable information and the right support at the right time,” added Ms Keane.
“Through our website and Navigator tool, Spunout provides trusted resources to help young people understand their mental health and connect with appropriate services.
“Text About It also plays a vital role in supporting young people’s mental health, particularly outside of regular hours. This support is made possible by our trained volunteers, who are always supervised and supported by Spunout staff. As demand for the service continues to grow, we encourage anyone interested in volunteering with Text About It to register their interest through the Spunout website.”
Overall, more than 908,000 people accessed the spunout.ie website last year, with the most popular content focusing on mental health, ADHD, finance, the CAO, employment, and young people’s rights and the Gardaí.
<
Leave a Reply