Youthline available over Christmas

Youthline available over Christmas

The end of the year brings a lot of good times with parties and time spent with family and friends, but for some young people Christmas can be a difficult time.

Youthline’s helpline will continue to operate 24/7 throughout the Christmas holiday period to ensure young people and their families around New Zealand are able to get the support they need.

In addition to this, Youthline’s free text 234 service will also be available as an additional point of contact from 8am until midnight.

Youthline Auckland CEO Stephen Bell says Christmas time is generally considered a happy time of year, but it can be very difficult for a lot of young people.

“As well as the usual issues facing youth, the summer break can bring all the anxieties associated with moving from what is known into the great unknown! The end of the school year, the start of a new educational year, including, for many, leaving home for the first time, with the transition to university or training institutes are some of the challenges facing young people. Others will be starting work, while just as many will begin a long, hard, dispiriting search for employment. In any of these situations, it’s easy to be overcome with worry,” he says.

In addition to these concerns, the pressure and financial stress that many families experience at this time of year, combined with increased social activity where drug and alcohol intake become higher can negatively affect family relationships and the wellbeing of young people.

“Young people can contact Youthline anytime they want or need to. From crisis situations, to those just wanting someone to listen to them – we offer a chance to talk things through in a confidential, non-threatening way,” says Mr Bell.

Youthline wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.

If you would like to connect Youthline you can do so in the following ways:

Call us on 0800 37 66 33

Free text 234

Email talk@youthline.co.nz

Visit www.youthline.co.nz

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