Celebrating Youthline’s ‘legends’

Youth Week 2013

Tomorrow marks the start of Youth week 2013, and for youth development organisation Youthline, the theme “Live like a legend” couldn’t be more fitting.

Youthline National spokesperson, Stephen Bell says it’s legends who keep Youthline’s work alive in local communities across New Zealand.

“Each year over 350,000 txt messages are managed and over 40,000 calls are received to the National 0800 helpline - there’s no shortage of young people in need of support.”

“That support wouldn’t be so accessible if it weren’t for our many volunteers who give up their time to be there for others”, he adds.

A youthline helpline worker recounts a phone call with a young woman contacting youthline for the first time:

Lily* shared that her peer, partner, and family relationship issues had left her feeling depressed and she had been self-harming. After an incident earlier in the day with her peer group she was feeling distressed and suicidal. Over the phone Lily shared around the things in her life that she was finding hard, and we spoke about activities she did that she found helpful when things were feeling tough. Together we looked at some options for support and Lily decided that face to face counseling would be a good starting point for her and that it would help her deal with what was going on for her so that she didn’t take her own life or use self harm to cope. At the end of the call Lily said she would be contacting Youthline Auckland’s face to face counselling intake team to set up counselling. She said that the call had been helpful in taking her mind away from the suicidal feelings she was having, and that she felt less alone with all that was going on for her.

Mr Bell says it’s these success stories which speak volumes.

“Youthline is about being a support for young people when things are a bit tough, but it’s also about developing and empowering them to achieve their potential , so they can ‘live like legends’”

On May 8th – 11th many Youthline volunteer staff will be out on the streets of Auckland collecting for our Annual Street Appeal, as part of Youth Week Celebrations. On May 9th volunteers will also be collecting for the day in Wellington.

“What many people don’t realise is that we receive very little funding to run the helpline and rely on donations from individuals and organisations – every dollar counts, so we ask you to please give generously.”

If you would like to volunteer for our street appeal please email: Dominic@youthline.co.nz

Support young people by donating during Youth Week:

$3 txt YL to 4499

$10 call 0900 96884

About Youth Week: Youth Week is an Ara Taiohi initiative which celebrates the amazing contributions and achievements of young people in New Zealand. The week inspires us to value, support, and affirm the diversity of young people in our society. This year the theme for youth week is Pakiwaitaratanga | Live Like a Legend. Many organisations all across NZ get involved and run their own events during Youth WeeK. Check them out here: http://arataiohi.org.nz/youthweekevents13

Youthline Auckland’s 2012 Volunteer of The Year: Ariana Krynen

Youth help:

Phone: 0800 37 66 33

Free Txt: 234
ends

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