Young people in the Tri-Cities dealing with difficult issues such as bullying and sexual exploitation will now be able to tap into helpful resources with a new texting platform called 2TALK.
Launched today for public and private high school students in School District 43, the pilot could one day spread across the province helping bullied and abused youth get help.
"This has been a long overdue service that we need to provide to our youth, and it is our hope that the pilot will be so overwhelmingly successful that we can take it to every city across the country," said Gary Mauris, president of the I am Someone Ending Bullying Society, which created the texting platform as a way to support youth in crisis.
Mauris said texting is how young people connect with others and so it's natural to create a platform where teens can report bullying and abuse anonymously, at least at first, until they build trust.
"The kids will realize they are not alone," Mauris said, noting that the alarming rates of suicide and self-harm amongst youth is a community issue and 2TALK is one way the community can respond.
While other programs, such as the online bullying reporting tool ERASE, puts kids in touch with school authorities, 2TALK links teens directly with resource workers at bc211 who are experienced in handling crises, he added.
"They actually built the system for us and wrapped up staff for this pilot," Mauris said. And while the hours of operation are currently Wednesday through Sunday from 3:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., - high risk hours for students - they could be expanded if there is a need.
Mauris, president of Dominion Lending Centres, who who co-founded the I Am Someone Ending Bullying Society with Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore two years ago, said he is pleased that Telus has come on board as a sponsor and he said Coquitlam Centre is lending a hand as well.
"We're getting a lot of people and a lot of companies recognizing this is the time to make a difference and this is the thing we thought that was most important to teens and young adults."
2TALK will initially serve Tri-City secondary students attending both public and private schools within School District 43. But after the four-month pilot, the service will be evaluated and, if successful, could be expanded into neighbouring communities.
The program is being paid for with start-up funding of $40,000 from Telus but longer term sustainable funding is still needed, according to Moore.
"We still have to fundraise for operations," Moore explained, noting that plans are in the works for an online auction with Coquitlam Centre and the group is also looking at using a new crowd fundng initiative started by The Tri-City News' parent company called BlackPress4Good.com.
THE DETAILS
What's happening
New texting platform will connect youth to community support services
It's for public and private high school students in School District 43 dealing with;
gangs;
sexual exploitation;
date violence;
and abuse
Text 2TALK (28255) from any mobile phone
Hours of operation: Wednesday through Sunday from 3:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
(Outside operating hours, youth will receive an automated text message stating the hours of operation and to call 211 if the person needs immediate assistance. Texts will be responded to once the service reopens).
FOR SCHOOLS
The I am Someone Ending Bullying Society has a team of presenters who will go into SD43 high schools to speak to kids about 2TALK.
CONNECT
More information about the society is available at www.iamsomeone.ca
More information about the United Way-funded bc211 is available at www.bc211.ca
