Therapy Near Me Mental Health Articles

Kids Helpline is Australia’s only free, confidential 24/7 online and phone counselling service specifically for young people aged 5 to 25. Established in 1991 by yourtown (formerly BoysTown), this essential service has been a lifeline for countless children and young people facing a wide range of issues. This article explores the history, services, impact, and significance of Kids Helpline, supported by scientific sources and expert insights.

Kids Helpline was established in 1991 by yourtown, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to helping young people and their families. The service was created to provide a safe and accessible platform for children and young people to discuss their problems and seek support from professional counsellors (yourtown, 2023).

The mission of Kids Helpline is to provide free, confidential, and accessible counselling services to young Australians, helping them to overcome challenges, build resilience, and improve their mental health and well-being. The service aims to ensure that no young person feels alone or unsupported during difficult times (Kids Helpline, 2023).

Kids Helpline offers 24/7 counselling services through various platforms:

Young people can call Kids Helpline at any time to speak with a professional counsellor. The service is free, confidential, and available nationwide. Counsellors provide immediate support, listen to concerns, and offer practical advice and referrals to other services if needed (Kids Helpline, 2023).

For those who prefer digital communication, Kids Helpline offers online chat and email counselling. These services provide the same level of support as phone counselling, allowing young people to choose the method that feels most comfortable and convenient for them (Kids Helpline, 2023).

Kids Helpline counsellors are trained to support young people with a wide range of issues, including:

• Mental Health: Anxiety, depression, stress, and other mental health concerns.
• Bullying: Support for victims of bullying and strategies for dealing with bullies.
• Family and Relationships: Help with family conflicts, relationship problems, and peer pressure.
• School and Education: Guidance on school-related stress, academic performance, and study habits.
• Abuse and Trauma: Support for young people who have experienced physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.
• Suicide and Self-Harm: Immediate intervention and ongoing support for young people at risk of self-harm or suicide (yourtown, 2023).

Kids Helpline has a significant reach across Australia, providing support to young people from diverse backgrounds and regions. The service’s accessibility through phone and digital platforms ensures that help is available to all young Australians, regardless of their location or circumstances (Kids Helpline, 2023).

Research indicates that services like Kids Helpline are effective in providing immediate emotional support and reducing distress among young people. A study by Burns et al. (2010) found that telephone counselling services significantly decreased feelings of loneliness and improved mental health outcomes for young callers.

Kids Helpline engages in community education and outreach to raise awareness about mental health issues and promote the availability of their services. This includes partnerships with schools, community organisations, and other stakeholders to create a supportive environment for young people (yourtown, 2023).

One of the primary challenges for Kids Helpline is meeting the growing demand for their services. The increasing prevalence of mental health issues among young people requires ongoing investment in resources and staffing to ensure that all calls and online requests can be answered promptly (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2020).

With the rising use of digital technology, Kids Helpline is continuously working to enhance its online services. This includes improving the functionality and accessibility of their online chat and email counselling platforms, as well as exploring new digital tools to support young people’s mental health (Rickwood et al., 2019).

Ensuring that Kids Helpline can effectively support young people from diverse backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, and LGBTQIA+ individuals, is essential. Tailored resources and culturally competent counselling are crucial for meeting the unique needs of these groups (Dudgeon et al., 2016).

Kids Helpline is a critical service that plays a vital role in supporting the mental health and well-being of young Australians. Through its free, confidential, and accessible counselling services, Kids Helpline provides immediate support and practical advice to young people facing a wide range of challenges. As mental health issues continue to rise among young people, the ongoing expansion and enhancement of Kids Helpline’s services will be crucial in ensuring that all young Australians have access to the support they need to thrive.

Our practice is a Registered NDIS Provider specialising in providing affordable and comprehensive NDIS psychology services:

1. Private clients (non-NDIS funded) can get sessions as cheap as $75 p/s when not on a Mental Healthcare Plan. Clinic locations available in all major CBDs.
2. We are a Registered NDIS Psychology Service Provider and we take on all NDIS participants, including NDIA managed.
3. Our NDIS session rate is around 25% less than the recommended NDIS billing rate for psychology ($165 vs $214.41 p/s). Leaving participants with more funding for additional services.
4. We treat all age groups and presentations.
5. Our 24/7 Telehealth service is available to everyone, anywhere in Australia, no matter how remote or what time of day it is.
6. We provide a home visit service for all metropolitan areas in capital cities around Australia, for the convenience of our NDIS participants.
7. Our experienced psychologists have guaranteed immediate (same week) capacity for new NDIS clients.

• Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2020). Australia’s children. Retrieved from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/children-youth/australias-children
• Burns, J. M., Durkin, L. A., & Nicholas, J. (2010). Mental health of young people in the United States: What role can the internet play in reducing stigma and promoting mental health? Journal of Adolescent Health, 47(4), 305-310.
• Dudgeon, P., Milroy, H., & Walker, R. (Eds.). (2016). Working Together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Wellbeing Principles and Practice (2nd ed.). Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia.
• Kids Helpline. (2023). About Kids Helpline. Retrieved from https://kidshelpline.com.au/about
• Rickwood, D., Mazzer, K. R., & Telford, N. R. (2019). Social influences on seeking help from mental health services, in-person and online, during adolescence and young adulthood. BMC Psychiatry, 19(1), 1-11.
• yourtown. (2023). Kids Helpline Services. Retrieved from https://www.yourtown.com.au/programs/kids-helpline

How to get in touch

If you or your patient/NDIS clients need immediate mental healthcare assistance, feel free to get in contact with us on 1800 NEAR ME – admin@calmandcaring.com.