SEATTLE – For teens struggling with growing up, there is a youth resource available to them called Teen Link. The phone and online chat help line is confidential, anonymous, and it’s run by trained teenage volunteers in King County.
Teen Link operates every night from 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. The number is 866-TEEN-LINK (866-833-6546). But teens who feel more comfortable chatting with a volunteer online can do so at 866teenlink.org.
Volunteers are taking calls from teens dealing with problems, difficulties at home and school, eating disorders, and thoughts of suicide. There's always an adult supervisor overseeing the kids taking calls and responding to chats.
"As people are navigating through high school and are dealing with family and other sorts of relationships or pressures, it can be really isolating and hard to know who they can talk to and so, for me, I think just being able to be a part of that process for people is something that I think is really powerful and amazing," said Anna Kallis.
A friend asked Kallis to volunteer 19 years ago. Now, she manages Teen Link.
The program started in 1996 after16-year-old Audra Letnes was killed by her boyfriend. Her mom, a crisis line worker, developed Teen Link in Audra's honor so other teens in trouble can find emotional support and other resources.
"I think what's important is every call feels serious to the caller. Just because they're calling someone they don't know. It's a teen help line – to get to that point, it's already got to be pretty big for them," said volunteer Cailyn, who found Teen Link while trying to help a friend who was in trouble.
No comments:
Post a Comment