In today’s world the Internet is wildly popular, which is why the Ottawa Youth Services Bureau launched a service to better connect with youth through a Crisis Chat.
YSB started the chat last month to aid their existing 24/7 telephone crisis line and mobile intervention services.
From Thursday through Sunday between 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. youth under the age of 18 or concerned parents can go online and chat with the same YSB mental health counsellors who provide advice and support through the YSB’s crisis line phone service.
Over $100,000 was contributed to help the development and implementation of the Crisis Chat service.
Donations came from the RBC Foundation and Adobe. The Cowan Foundation donated $30,000 to this particular service, and make yearly donations to the YSB for various things.
The bureau also drew from the existing Mental Health Services budget in order to run the service and cover developmental costs, such as graphic design.
The YSB’s crisis outreach services are designed to help youth struggling with mental health issues, including depression and stress.
Francine Gravelle, director of YSB’s mental health services, explained that the bureau’s research shows youth feel more comfortable communicating online than by phone. Some youth even see it as more personal than spoken conversation.
“Many youth in the Ottawa area are in need of help but are not sure where to turn,” Gravelle said by email.
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, between 10 to 20 per cent of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness or disorder, and in Canada only one in five of those who need mental health services receive it.
Having access to an online mental health counsellor will give Ottawa youth anotherway to connect with help.
“Ultimately, our goal is to encourage more youth to reach out to a counsellor when they are in need,” said Gravelle.
“It is vital that we are where the teens are.”
Madison Adams, the Vice President Student Issues, who planned a Pop the Stigma mental health awareness week at Carleton University last month agrees with the YSB’s movement.
“I think that having more than just a phone number is important as the more channels there are for communication the better,” said Adams.
“Sometimes just being able to talk to someone and having that open dialogue can make the difference.”
Gravelle also noted the plan is to eventually expand the Crisis Chat service past its current available hours. YSB officials are also listening to the youths’ feedback to assure the bureau can meet their needs in the best way possible.
The YSB says its goals are to make the complexity of mental health systems easier to navigate, reduce wait times and reduce barriers when it comes to youth getting the help they need.
“We are continually working to improve our services to young people and parents who are struggling with relationships, anxiety, depression and other challenges that are often faced for the first time in adolescence,” said Gravelle.
The chat service can be found at ysbchat.ysb.ca when the service is online. If the chat room is closed, the crisis team can still be reached through the hotline number.
In a further effort to reach out to youth, the YSB is running an awareness campaign through posting photographs to Instagram at the username @reallifematters.