Home / Health / Nova Scotia Youth Seek More Text Support
Nova Scotia Youth Seek More Text Support
1 May
Summary
- Nova Scotian youth texted a national helpline over 8,100 times in 2025.
- The number of texts from youth increased by 25 percent year-over-year.
- Mental Health Week begins May 3rd with national 'Walk So Kids Can Talk' events.
An increasing number of youth in Nova Scotia utilized a national helpline for crisis support last year, with over 8,100 reaching out via its text feature in 2025. This represents a substantial 25 percent increase compared to the preceding year, underscoring a growing reliance on anonymous text-based counseling. Topics of support were categorized into five main areas.
As Canada's Mental Health Week commences on Sunday, May 3rd, Kids Help Phone is launching a series of national events. Among these is the 'Walk So Kids Can Talk' five-kilometre walk, scheduled to take place at Halifax's Emera Oval on May 3rd. The event aims to gather support and heighten public awareness regarding youth mental health challenges.
Matthew Ravida, an ambassador for the event, shared his personal experience of contacting Kids Help Phone as a teenager in 2008 following his brother's sudden death. He found solace in the anonymous support provided, which helped him cope and eventually communicate with his family. Ravida emphasized that while stigma has lessened, it persists, making confidential, 24/7 services like those offered by Kids Help Phone invaluable for young people seeking to open up about their struggles.
