PlayStation has announced it’s partnering with Crisis Text Line in the United States to “provide free, 24/7, high-quality text-based mental health support for our players, their friends, or anyone close to them”. According to a webpage setup by Sony, the service – available in English or Spanish language – aims to “help you move from a hot moment to a cool calm”.
The site continues: “Text CIRCLE to 741741 to be connected with a volunteer Crisis Counsellor which usually takes less than five minutes. They will then introduce themselves, reflect on what you've said, and invite you to share at your own pace. A conversation usually lasts anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes.”
Sony adds that the support is available to anyone who needs it, so you can pass the information on to a friend or family member, and they’ll be assisted in the same way. There’s more information on PlayStation’s website, including the Crisis Text Line’s privacy policy and much more. And of course, you can find a list of more helplines wherever you are in the world through here.
[source playstation.com]
Comments 18
This is a great idea and shows Sony values people as much (if not more than) the money in our wallet.
What an irony! what about the rest of the world the EU and UK could benefit this 🤷♀️🤷♀️😡
Who uses texts anymore, nice thought though
Gaming addition? Log into your playstation account...
Really impressive offering. Mental Health services are severely lacking and kudos to Sony for trying to leverage their influence and platform to try to do something about it.
@huyi don't most countries in eu have mental health for free unlike in the US health care is not free and very expensive.
It's truly a sad state the world is in. The mental health decline across the western nations is severe and perpetuated by social media. People need to start rooting their identity in reality again and get outside far more often.
I picture it as Sony was sitting around listening to multiplayer chats and going, "Good God! We need to get these people help!" 😄
@Victor_Meldrew Have you evolved to psychic thoughts? You're beyond texts?
So cutting edge hipster.
@Uncharted2007 So you're under the impression mental health issues stem from or are more from the time of technology?
Uh.....no.
By all means, go enjoy that fresh air. Less traffic on the broadband only helps the connection.
@C25CLOUD yes it is for "free" just like plus is but we all have to pay into the system via taxes, some places in the UK are understaffed and the help is still limited regardless if the help is "free" it doesn't mean it's still available to anyone who needs it, there is always a factor
@Uncharted2007 it is, regardless if some parts of the world offer it for "free" it still cannot provide enough to help people who need it
@burning_as_souls Social media obviously isn't the only factor causing mental illness but it fans the flames and exacerbates the issue. Narcissism for instance is very much perpetuated via social media.
Never thought I'd see a flame war over USA & UE's mental health services on a video games website. Regardless, it's a good innovative solution that Sony has initiated. Hopefully UK,UE, Australia, Japan and Canada also get this feature sooner than later.
People suck. On average anyway.
@Victor_Meldrew Wait, really? How do friends communicate now? I’m 40, bear in mind.
It's a Welcome move after playing 70hours of demon souls.
@Victor_Meldrew how do u talk to people do u call them lol
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