Two online mental health charities are to merge to bolster the scope of their digital support.

The move will see The Mix, which supports the emotional wellbeing of under 25s, merge with Mental Health Innovations, which offers digital support to those of all ages including through its text messaging support service Shout.

The move will “hugely strengthen our offer for the nation’s young people” said Mental Health Innovations chief executive Victoria Hornby.

She added: “The merger of our charities will mean that we will be able to improve the mental wellbeing of millions of young people through a broader digital offering encompassing an ecosystem of support and empowerment.

“Our brilliant volunteer and peer communities will be at the heart of service delivery, underpinned by data insights, cutting edge technology and clinical expertise.”

According to Mental Health Innovations more than three in five texters to its Shout service are under 25.

Through the merger the Mix will “sit alongside” the Shout services “to provide a new ecosystem of free, 24/7 mental health support reaching millions more young people struggling with their wellbeing”.

The two charities also hope the move will offer more volunteering opportunities and help develop new products such as learning modules, single session counselling, expanded chatbot support and peer led interventions.

The Mix’s youth advisory board will be involved in designing new services.

The merger “is an incredible opportunity” to bring together two digital focused charities “to drive earlier intervention for young people’s mental health”, said The Mix chief executive Chris Martin.

He added: “Our combined team of amazing practitioners hold unique skills in youth participation and engagement, clinical expertise, volunteering, digital development and data science.

“We will build these elements into The Mix’s work, in order to deliver new interventions with young people at their heart. We believe that this new partnership will create transformational change now and in the future.”

According to the charities register income for the Mix, which is registered as Youthnet UK, for the financial year ending June last year was £1.8m however its spending was £2.5m.

Spending also outstripped income for Mental Health Innovations, according to its latest charities register filed accounts for the year ending December 2022, but by a lesser extent.

Over this period, it spent £6.7m while its income was £6.1m.

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