Troubled Tri-City youth using the new 2TALK texting program to get help are dealing with grief, interpersonal conflict and mental health concerns not just bullying according to the latest stats from the Port-Coquitlam based I Am Someone Let's End Bullying Society.
Launched in October, a month late because of the school strike, 2TALK is already bearing results, said program vice-president and Port Coquitlam mayor Greg Moore, and the early numbers show texting is an ideal way to provide support to youth although it turns out their concerns are much more diverse than first imagined.
"Initially we came out thinking we are going to address bullying, that's our number one driver, but it turns out sadness, feeling alone or having no one to speak to around grieving or loss is a major concern."
BETA TESTING IN TRI-CITIES
The program, currently in the beta testing phase and developed with $40,000 in Telus funding and community donations, connects youth with BC211, a resource and referral agency. Teens use their smartphones to text for help dealing with their concerns and although only about three dozen texts have come in during each of October and November, that number is expected to rise once information about the program is disseminated through School District 43 high schools.
The strike delayed information about the program being posted, Moore said. In the meantime, teens are learning about 2TALK by reading about it on bus signs donated by the Pattison Sign Group and on promoted posts on Twitter and Facebook. As well a 30-second commercial has been developed and is being aired by SilverCity Coquitlam before each movie in the month of December.
CHRISTMAS BREAK A CONCERN
In the meantime, the soft launch has given the society's board and BC211 an opportunity to determine what works and what doesn't and the best way to reach youth.
"We are trying to define at the end of our beta test, what is success, whether its a volume of calls or the number of testimonials," Moore said, adding that 2TALK results will be compared to similar programs in the U.S. for a better idea of how program results should be measured.
The board of I Am Someone is also interested in seeing what data comes out of the Christmas period and if teens have different issues over the holidays than during the school term.
"We are really quite curious to see if there are different call drivers when kids are not in school and they're dealing with different pressures," he said.
The beta test period is now being extended until April to account for the slow uptake in schools and to get more in depth statistics. At the end of that time, Moore said, the board will be in a better position to determine whether there is a critical need for 2TALK and even if it should be expanded. Funding for the program ends once the beta test is concluded and at that time new funding partners will have to emerge if the program is to continue, Moore said.
While there are other programs targeting youth, such the Tri-City based ACESSS for Youth mobile outreach, the Kids Help Phone, and the province's Erase Bullying program, 2TALK is the only texting platform for teens, and unlike ERASE, would be available year round to all students, not just those in public school.
It currently operates 3:30 to 11 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Teens access the resource by keying 2TALK(28255).
