The number of attempts to contact Kids Helpline increased from 146,292 to 148,776 over the past six months, with visits to the website increasing from 552,103 to 875,280 – up 59% over the same six month period to June 30.
“A quarter of all counselling sessions now have to do with mental health concerns and one in ten are a young person presenting with an undiagnosed mental illness,” said yourtown Chief Executive Officer Tracy Adams.
Responding to concerns children and young people have in relation to their mental health and well-being is a major area of Kids Helpline’s work, along with responding to concerns about identity and self-concept, school and education, and health and development issues.
Kids Helpline supports and protects children and young people (5-25) 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Ms Adams said Kids Helpline requires an additional $5 million annually which would enable the employment of additional professional counselling staff in order to meet the demand.
“We want young people to get the very best service they can, particularly with the issues they are contacting us about,” Ms Adams said.
“Whilst we acknowledge the proactive and brave help seeking behavior of children and young people we are extremely concerned that we are unable to answer every contact for help.
“We however encourage children and young people to keep trying to contact us if even if they can’t get through the first time, keep trying, it is vitally important that they do.”
For more information about yourtown visit yourtown.com.au or www.kidshelpline.com.au -1800 551 800.
