Teens that are in crisis can now find help at their fingertips.
Naperville Collaborative Youth Team has partnered with the National Crisis Text Line to set up a 24-hour, 7 days a week outreach point for anyone in need.
IdaLynn Wenhold, the executive director of KidsMatter explains how it works.
“We know that kids are really comfortable in texting, so they can text REACH, R-E-A-C-H to 741741 and be connected to a trained professional,” said Wenhold.
These trained professionals are equipped to help anyone suffering from anxiety, depression, bullying, suicidal thoughts, or any number of painful issues.
The communication is completely confidential – and the discretion it provides, along with the ease of connecting are key to getting teens to reach out for needed help.
According to a 2015 study by the Pew Research Center, 88 percent of American teens age 13 to 17 have access to a cell phone, and 90 percent of them exchange texts.
Naperville News 17’s Kim Pirc reports.
