DISCLAIMER

Help Texts provides general educational information from an array of sources, authors, and experts, but you should not substitute text messages received from Help Texts or information on our website for professional advice.

TERMS OF SERVICE

This statement covers Help Texts text messages, as well as website and social media content. Please read this statement carefully. By subscribing to the Help Texts messaging service, or accessing this site, you accept and agree to be bound by the terms and provisions of this agreement. In addition, when using the Help Texts website or text messaging service, you shall be subject to any posted guidelines or rules applicable to such services, which may be posted and modified from time to time. Any use of Help Texts content will constitute acceptance of this agreement. If you do not agree to abide by the terms and conditions outlined herein, please do not use the Help Texts website or text messaging service.

Help Texts is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment, mental health services, psychotherapy, or counseling. Any subscribers or website visitors who are having thoughts of harming themselves, or in are in crisis, should call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 in the US, or their local crisis line if in another country.

If you have questions about any mental health symptom or medical condition, you should seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health care provider, and follow that advice, regardless of anything you may have received from Help Texts or read on our website. Deciding to rely on information provided by Help Texts is solely at your own risk.

Help Texts is an educational program that provides information, coping strategies, and educational resources related to mental health and grief. As our service is purely educational in nature and not clinical therapy, minors between the ages of 13 and 17 may access and use Help Texts without parental consent.

For users under 18 years of age, we collect limited personal information necessary to provide our service, including name, email address, and phone number. For our grief education service, we also collect basic information about the deceased (name, cause of death, and date of death) to provide relevant educational support. While we offer an optional birthday field, this information is not mandatory. While parental consent is not required for access to our educational content under current regulations governing digital health education providers, we encourage parents and guardians to be involved in their teens' use of our service. Upon request, we will promptly remove all personal information of users under 18 from our systems in accordance with applicable privacy laws.

Research and Program Improvement
Help Texts may collect, use, and analyze de-identified subscriber data for statistical analysis, research purposes, and program improvement. By using our services, you consent to such use of your information.

We assure you that all research conducted will adhere to the highest ethical standards. Since we only use de-identified data points, such research will have no direct personal impact on individual subscribers. We take our responsibility seriously when handling your information, even in its de-identified form.

If your non-identifiable data are used for research purposes, then the limitation of liability and indemnity clauses contained within this Terms of Service Agreement are waived with respect to any harms suffered or liabilities incurred as a result of any research activities.