Mental Health Foundation
9th September 2008
In previous years, Content Guru technology has helped many charitable causes to raise money, awareness and aid for those in need. One notable initiative this year was in conjunction with the Mental Health Foundation.
Founded in 1949, the Mental Health Foundation is a leading UK charity that provides information, carries out research, campaigns and works to improve services for anyone affected by mental health problems. The Foundation takes an integrated approach to mental health and mental illness, believing that social and biological factors are crucial to understanding mental health.
Mental health problems are among the most common of all health conditions, directly affecting about a quarter of the population in any one year. Depression and anxiety are the most widespread conditions.
Issues range from the worries we all experience as part of everyday life to serious long-term conditions. The majority of people who experience mental health problems can get over them or learn to live with them, especially if they get help early on.
The knowledge that mental health problems affect 1 in 5 children led to the recent 'Just A Phase' campaign, targeting parents.
By placing advertisements in weekly magazines and national newspapers, the Mental Health Foundation aimed to raise awareness about the mental health of children and whether difficult phases may be indicative of a more serious problem. Worried parents or family members were encouraged to text or phone in, in order to receive a free advice booklet.
Content Guru’s storm™ platform provided the IVR, 0800 recorded voice facility and the SMS capability to capture the respondents' data, which was used to forward the booklet. Data was then placed in a contact list, which could be used in later fundraising campaigns. The system also featured a transcription service, which was used to create a daily report consisting of the latest data, for ultimate ease of use.
Furthermore, tracking allowed Whitewater, the Mental Health Foundation's marketing company, to establish which publications were the source of the most responses, allowing them to focus their campaign audience in the future.
A spokesperson for the Mental Health Foundation said, “It was great to be able to offer people the option of requesting information in the way that was most convenient for them”. Originally designed to run for one month, the demand for the booklets was so high, that the campaign was extended to two months.
For further information call +[44] (0)1344 852 350 or text Guru to 66663.
