Virgin Care’s school nurses are on hand to give young people across Bath help and advice on a range of issues during the coronavirus lockdown through the confidential texting service ChatHealth.
The service, for those aged 11 to 19, operates across Bath and North East Somerset as well as Wiltshire, Essex and Lancashire.
The service allows young people to text their school nurse for advice on everything from smoking, alcohol and drug abuse to bullying, problems with friends or family, self-harm and puberty.
It is available from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, (excluding bank holidays), and while it is not a new service, Virgin Care are promoting it now as it understands some young people may feel they have no one to turn to for confidential help during the current global pandemic as they have to stay at home.
Charlotte Forward, Professional Lead 5-19 for Public Health Nursing & School Age Immunisations, said: “Our ChatHealth service provides important help and advice to young people whatever they may be facing and we fully understand how that is extremely important during lockdown when they won’t have the support of their school friends or teachers and others around them and want to speak to someone.”
The number to text for Bath and North East Somerset is 07507 334357.
You can find the latest coronavirus information, advice and community updates for the Bath & North East Somerset area on our dedicated live blog here.
