Do More Mondays - #45 - "Kids Help Phone"

Suicide happens when a person has lost all hope.  It is a final attempt to end really intense suffering, but it is not a solution.  People who end their lives this way leave the people who care about them with a lifetime of sadness, confusion, hurt and despair.

This week I'm making a donation to 'Kids Help Phone' ~ a Canadian anonymous phone and online counselling, referral and information service for children and youth.  The service provides counselling to youth who seek it by calling a toll-free number or posting anonymously on their website.  Kids talk to Kids Help Phone when kids don't know who to talk to.  They are there for anything; from trouble with homework to dealing with loss and grief to thoughts of suicide, kids can talk to Kids Help Phone about anything.  Professional counsellors provide anonymous, confidential and non-judgemental support.  They are the only organization that has access to a database of over 37,000 local resources.  That means that no matter where a kid is calling from, our professional counsellors can connect them to a service right
in their community, whether they need a place to stay for the night, a way-home or a sexual health clinic.

Even though everyone needs help sometimes, stigma around mental and emotional health struggle remains strong. The threat of being judged or labeled can leave both adults and kids reluctant to seek help.

I challenge anyone to do more.