The Prince George Citizen

Kids Help Phone adds texting option

-

TORONTO (CP) — Canadian youth can now access mental health support through a free bilingual texting service being rolled out across the country by Kids Help Phone.

The charitable organizati­on is introducin­g the 24/7 texting support option through a service partnershi­p with U.S. based helpline and technology pioneer Crisis Text Line.

A pilot project begun in February in Manitoba and select provinces has logged more than 13,000 texting conversati­ons between young people seeking help and trained volunteer crisis responders.

The pilot study showed that the most common issues affecting young people were anxiety, relationsh­ips and feelings of isolation. Twenty-four per cent of texters reached out because of suicidal thoughts.

The confidenti­al service is accessible by texting TALK to 686868 for an English-speaking crisis responder and TEXTO to 686868 to reach a Frenchspea­king counsellor on any text/SMS- enabled cellphone.

The texting service requires no data plan, internet connection or app. For many young people, a lack of privacy, unreliable internet and limited data plans make it difficult to communicat­e by phone.

Phone and online Live Chat services remain core programs of Kids Help Phone, providing anonymous and confidenti­al profession­al counsellin­g.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Canada