Data released by spunout recently shows that anxiety, stress and isolation are the top issues for young people using their Text About It service.
At the launch of spunout’s new report 250,000 Conversations: A Real-Time View of Youth Mental Health in Ireland, the youth information and support platform revealed that between June 2020 and June 2025, trained volunteers supported 250,000 conversations through the Text About It service.
On average, 135 conversations took place each day, equating to one person reaching out every 11 minutes, reflecting the scale of the youth mental health crisis in Ireland. Text About It is a free, anonymous, 24/7, empathic and non- judgmental listening service, providing human-to-human support for everything from a calming chat, to immediate support for mental health and emotional wellbeing.
The report analysed these conversations and found that young people most frequently seek support for emotional distress, including anxiety, stress, and feelings of isolation. A significant proportion of conversations relate to suicide and depression, with over 30,000 texters reaching out with thoughts of suicide, pointing to the level of vulnerability among those accessing the service. Top issues for young people using
Text About It:
1. Anxiety (27.6%)
2. Stress (19.4%)
3. Isolation (17.6%)
4. Suicide (16.9%)
5. Depression (15.9%)
6. Sadness (15.2%)
The Text About It service sees peak demand during the late evening and night, with 44 per cent of conversations occurring between 8pm and 2am, indicating young people are significantly more likely to seek support outside of standard service hours. This demonstrates a structural gap between when support is needed and when many services are available.
The report also found a clear relationship between external events and individuals accessing Text About It. Spikes in demand often align directly with moments of national and global uncertainty, from public health crises to exam periods. The busiest day for accessing Text About It, with 654 conversations occurring, was October 6th 2020 during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Minister of State at the Department of
Health with responsibility for Mental Health, Mary Butler TD said: “As we mark more than a quarter of a million conversations through ‘Text About It’, it is worth reflecting on how remarkable this service truly is. Time and again, spunout has been there at critical moments, offering people in distress a listening ear, a safe and private space to vent, and the opportunity to unburden their worries with someone they do not know.”
“This is a free service that I have been proud to support as Minister for Mental Health, one that is fully funded by my Department through the HSE. On this milestone, I want to pay particular tribute to the dedicated and hardworking team at spunout and extend my heartfelt thanks to every volunteer who has given their time to show compassion to their peers. The ‘Text About It’ volunteer community embodies the very best of humanity, and this service would not exist without their valued contribution.”
Sinead Keane, CEO at spunout, said: “The insights in this report offer a real time view of youth mental health in Ireland today. They reveal increasing demand, growing complexity and a level of distress that cannot be ignored. Behind every number in this report is a young person who reached out in distress and found someone there to listen, and a trained volunteer showing up day and night to listen, support, and respond with care.”
