Youthline faced with hanging up on troubled youth: Aging infrastructure threatens services

Youthline’s support for young New Zealanders has grown dramatically in the last decade, but the service’s ability to reach out to those who need help is under threat.

More than 20,000 phone calls and TXT messages are received by Youthline every month but its aging infrastructure means some of these young people may not receive the help they deserve.

According to National Spokesperson Stephen Bell, the huge increase in demand and 24/7 nature of Youthline’s support mean the aging telecommunications system is under immense strain. Around $200,000 is needed to upgrade it.

“Youthline has grown from less than 1,000 contacts per month when we began in 1970 to nearly a quarter of a million calls and TXTs per year.

“In some ways, Youthline seems to be a casualty of our own success. As we’ve grown to meet the needs of young people and the demand for our services the support from some organisations and government have actually reduced – which leaves us with a huge risk,” says Bell.

The core phone and text service – which is free to young people - is primarily funded through grants and donations from charitable organisations, business sponsors and individual donors.

New Zealand has the highest rates of suicide in the OECD for youth aged 15 to 19 at 15.9 per 100,000 people – about double the rate of the United States and Australia – according to the OECD report on child wellbeing out last year.

The core phone and TXT service – which is free to young people – is only possible through the generosity of people across New Zealand.

Youthline is working hard to get support and has also launched a donor campaign, asking members of the public to help ensure it can continue providing its 24/7 services to young New Zealanders.

Information on how to help is at http://www.youthline.co.nz/donate

The Cost of Supporting NZ Youth

$1 to keep the Youthline’s helpline service running (including text) for 1 minute
$60 will keep Youthline’s phone and text service operating for one hour
$900 to train a volunteer to support young people via phone and txt

For more information, please contact Stephen Bell on 09 361 4166