From bullying to family issues, being a kid is tough, and now there’s a new resource to help them out.
The Crisis Textline was recently launched by Kids Help Phone, giving kids the chance to ask for help over SMS.
Kids Help Phone provides anonymous counselling by phone or through an online chat.
They decided to launch a pilot project in February 2018 for a confidential texting service using compassionate volunteers to listen and respond.
“Some young people might prefer to communicate over SMS text message,” says Cara Chen, manager for community crisis responders. “Not only because it’s confidential, non-verbal, very discrete, 24/7 and completely free, but also because there’s no need for a data plan, a secure internet connection, a smartphone app, or even consistent cell service.”
It initially launched in Manitoba, but after a major tragedy, it expanded to Saskatchewan and Alberta.
“We started branching out into other select areas,” says Chen “One was in April during the Humboldt bus tragedy. Within 24 hours of the accident we decided to expand into both Alberta and Saskatchewan just because of the number of people who were affected by that tragic accident.”
In the first six months of the pilot program, it reached about 13,000 kids.
According to Kids Help Phone, 86% of those kids reporter feeling less alone, less frustrated, more hopeful, more confident and more in control.
60% of kids said they spoke about an experience or feeling they have never shared with anyone else.
78% said without this service they would have tried to manage the issue on their own, ignored the issue or hoped it would have gone away.
7% also said without the service they would have gone to the emergency room.
In November, the program launched nation-wide, and has already reached more than 37,000 kids.
The foundation decided to launch the program to accommodate all kids, and because texting is a resource most have access to.
“Young people can reach out in whatever way they really want,” says Chen. “They can phone in, they can message in, or they can text in.”
Chen says the foundation hopes to reach 3.5 million young people by 2021.
Visit kidshelpphone.ca for more information.
